Breakfast cereal price inflation, 2004→2021

Breakfast Cereal Inflation Calculator

Prices for Breakfast Cereal, 2004-2021 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for breakfast cereal were 13.21% higher in 2021 versus 2004 (a $2.64 difference in value).

Between 2004 and 2021: Breakfast cereal experienced an average inflation rate of 0.73% per year. In other words, breakfast cereal costing $20 in the year 2004 would cost $22.64 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.15% during this same period, inflation for breakfast cereal was lower.

In the year 2004: Pricing changed by -0.39%, which is below the average yearly change for breakfast cereal during the 2004-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2004 (2.68%), inflation for breakfast cereal was much lower.

Price Inflation for Breakfast cereal since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (14.57%), 1981 (13.86%), and 2022 (12.52%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2004

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Breakfast cereal, over time, for $20 beginning in 2004. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2004	$20.00	-0.39%
2005	$20.00	0.02%
2006	$19.64	-1.79%
2007	$20.15	2.55%
2008	$20.85	3.48%
2009	$21.40	2.64%
2010	$21.15	-1.17%
2011	$21.95	3.82%
2012	$22.42	2.10%
2013	$22.38	-0.16%
2014	$22.49	0.47%
2015	$22.58	0.42%
2016	$22.33	-1.11%
2017	$22.08	-1.10%
2018	$21.68	-1.81%
2019	$21.80	0.53%
2020	$22.09	1.32%
2021	$22.64	2.51%
2022	$25.48	12.52%
2023	$27.25	6.97%
2024	$26.92	-1.23%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Breakfast cereal:

Year	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
CPI	57.100	60.769	66.623	76.331	86.908	94.800	99.854	105.338	111.277	117.246	124.131	132.938	147.869	158.562	168.115	175.423	183.269	190.600	192.492	190.015	187.469	189.931	195.215	197.962	199.669	203.023	204.315	203.523	203.562	199.908	205.014	212.149	217.745	215.189	223.415	228.107	227.752	228.825	229.784	227.242	224.739	220.660	221.819	224.751	230.401	259.258	277.333	273.910

Adjust breakfast cereal prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2021 / CPI in 2004 * 2004 USD value = 2021 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Breakfast cereal was 203.523 in the year 2004 and 230.401 in 2021:

230.401 / 203.523 * $20 = $22.64

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2004 has the same "purchasing power" as $22.64 in 2021 (in the CPI category of Breakfast cereal).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Breakfast cereal in 1977. In addition to breakfast cereal, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.