According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for cereals and cereal products are 288.98% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $57.80 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Cereals and cereal products experienced an average inflation rate of 2.93% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, cereals and cereal products costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $77.80 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for cereals and cereal products was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 8.42%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for cereals and cereal products during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for cereals and cereal products was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cereals and cereal products, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 8.42% |
| 1980 | $22.76 | 13.78% |
| 1981 | $25.27 | 11.06% |
| 1982 | $26.34 | 4.21% |
| 1983 | $26.85 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | $27.89 | 3.88% |
| 1985 | $28.97 | 3.87% |
| 1986 | $29.83 | 2.95% |
| 1987 | $30.76 | 3.15% |
| 1988 | $33.10 | 7.58% |
| 1989 | $36.16 | 9.25% |
| 1990 | $38.12 | 5.42% |
| 1991 | $39.87 | 4.58% |
| 1992 | $41.41 | 3.88% |
| 1993 | $42.66 | 3.01% |
| 1994 | $44.54 | 4.42% |
| 1995 | $45.16 | 1.39% |
| 1996 | $45.63 | 1.04% |
| 1997 | $45.81 | 0.39% |
| 1998 | $46.35 | 1.16% |
| 1999 | $47.28 | 2.02% |
| 2000 | $47.54 | 0.54% |
| 2001 | $48.29 | 1.58% |
| 2002 | $49.14 | 1.76% |
| 2003 | $50.04 | 1.84% |
| 2004 | $50.31 | 0.52% |
| 2005 | $50.46 | 0.30% |
| 2006 | $50.61 | 0.31% |
| 2007 | $52.61 | 3.95% |
| 2008 | $57.94 | 10.13% |
| 2009 | $59.93 | 3.43% |
| 2010 | $58.81 | -1.86% |
| 2011 | $61.39 | 4.38% |
| 2012 | $62.94 | 2.53% |
| 2013 | $62.88 | -0.10% |
| 2014 | $62.93 | 0.07% |
| 2015 | $63.26 | 0.52% |
| 2016 | $62.49 | -1.22% |
| 2017 | $61.53 | -1.53% |
| 2018 | $61.25 | -0.46% |
| 2019 | $61.51 | 0.43% |
| 2020 | $62.64 | 1.83% |
| 2021 | $63.72 | 1.73% |
| 2022 | $72.49 | 13.76% |
| 2023 | $77.73 | 7.23% |
| 2024 | $77.49 | -0.30% |
| 2025 | $76.95 | -0.71% |
| 2026 | $77.80 | 1.10%* |
* 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 Cereals and cereal products:
| 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 63.300 | 68.258 | 74.008 | 84.208 | 93.525 | 97.458 | 99.350 | 103.208 | 107.200 | 110.367 | 113.842 | 122.475 | 133.800 | 141.058 | 147.525 | 153.250 | 157.858 | 164.833 | 167.125 | 168.867 | 169.533 | 171.508 | 174.967 | 175.908 | 178.683 | 181.833 | 185.183 | 186.150 | 186.708 | 187.292 | 194.684 | 214.403 | 221.765 | 217.639 | 227.164 | 232.919 | 232.690 | 232.863 | 234.083 | 231.227 | 227.683 | 226.633 | 227.613 | 231.787 | 235.802 | 268.246 | 287.630 | 286.758 | 284.736 | 287.875 |