According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh cakes and cupcakes are 449.42% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $89.88 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Fresh cakes and cupcakes experienced an average inflation rate of 3.69% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh cakes and cupcakes costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $109.88 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for fresh cakes and cupcakes was higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 9.75%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fresh cakes and cupcakes during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for fresh cakes and cupcakes was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh cakes and cupcakes, 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 | 9.75% |
| 1980 | $22.40 | 12.00% |
| 1981 | $24.87 | 11.01% |
| 1982 | $26.05 | 4.75% |
| 1983 | $27.14 | 4.19% |
| 1984 | $28.57 | 5.27% |
| 1985 | $29.79 | 4.27% |
| 1986 | $30.46 | 2.25% |
| 1987 | $31.63 | 3.82% |
| 1988 | $33.48 | 5.87% |
| 1989 | $35.39 | 5.70% |
| 1990 | $37.63 | 6.33% |
| 1991 | $39.55 | 5.09% |
| 1992 | $40.44 | 2.26% |
| 1993 | $42.29 | 4.57% |
| 1994 | $43.60 | 3.10% |
| 1995 | $45.73 | 4.90% |
| 1996 | $47.18 | 3.17% |
| 1997 | $48.45 | 2.68% |
| 1998 | $48.88 | 0.88% |
| 1999 | $50.06 | 2.43% |
| 2000 | $51.25 | 2.37% |
| 2001 | $52.92 | 3.27% |
| 2002 | $54.02 | 2.07% |
| 2003 | $55.74 | 3.18% |
| 2004 | $56.87 | 2.03% |
| 2005 | $58.24 | 2.42% |
| 2006 | $59.15 | 1.56% |
| 2007 | $61.54 | 4.03% |
| 2008 | $67.37 | 9.47% |
| 2009 | $69.97 | 3.86% |
| 2010 | $70.17 | 0.29% |
| 2011 | $72.44 | 3.23% |
| 2012 | $75.29 | 3.94% |
| 2013 | $76.48 | 1.58% |
| 2014 | $77.39 | 1.19% |
| 2015 | $79.64 | 2.90% |
| 2016 | $81.45 | 2.27% |
| 2017 | $82.58 | 1.39% |
| 2018 | $84.42 | 2.23% |
| 2019 | $86.41 | 2.35% |
| 2020 | $85.66 | -0.87% |
| 2021 | $88.21 | 2.98% |
| 2022 | $98.21 | 11.34% |
| 2023 | $106.30 | 8.24% |
| 2024 | $106.80 | 0.47% |
| 2025 | $108.73 | 1.81% |
| 2026 | $109.88 | 1.06%* |
* 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 Fresh cakes and cupcakes:
| 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 | 64.100 | 66.867 | 73.383 | 82.192 | 91.242 | 95.575 | 99.583 | 104.833 | 109.308 | 111.767 | 116.042 | 122.858 | 129.858 | 138.083 | 145.108 | 148.383 | 155.158 | 159.967 | 167.800 | 173.125 | 177.767 | 179.333 | 183.683 | 188.033 | 194.183 | 198.208 | 204.508 | 208.658 | 213.700 | 217.033 | 225.784 | 247.176 | 256.729 | 257.470 | 265.787 | 276.260 | 280.616 | 283.951 | 292.195 | 298.837 | 302.991 | 309.761 | 317.046 | 314.286 | 323.652 | 360.346 | 390.044 | 391.859 | 398.951 | 403.186 |