According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for rice, pasta, cornmeal were 168.44% higher in 2021 versus 1980 (a $33.69 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2021: Rice, pasta, cornmeal experienced an average inflation rate of 2.44% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, rice, pasta, cornmeal costing $20 in the year 1980 would cost $53.69 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.87% during this same period, inflation for rice, pasta, cornmeal was lower.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 16.46%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for rice, pasta, cornmeal during the 1980-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for rice, pasta, cornmeal was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Rice, pasta, cornmeal:
| 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 |
| CPI | 67.500 | 74.131 | 78.046 | 90.892 | 101.269 | 100.685 | 98.531 | 100.777 | 102.069 | 102.231 | 101.685 | 114.354 | 119.962 | 121.969 | 126.531 | 128.277 | 129.715 | 139.654 | 140.177 | 144.177 | 148.754 | 150.538 | 151.877 | 150.723 | 154.638 | 155.831 | 160.338 | 164.477 | 165.262 | 171.354 | 181.421 | 218.763 | 229.900 | 224.406 | 234.088 | 239.384 | 239.427 | 238.133 | 241.647 | 239.110 | 234.257 | 236.233 | 238.024 | 243.947 | 243.989 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Rice, pasta, cornmeal, over time, for $20 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $20.00 | 16.46% |
| 1981 | $22.28 | 11.42% |
| 1982 | $22.15 | -0.58% |
| 1983 | $21.68 | -2.14% |
| 1984 | $22.18 | 2.28% |
| 1985 | $22.46 | 1.28% |
| 1986 | $22.49 | 0.16% |
| 1987 | $22.37 | -0.53% |
| 1988 | $25.16 | 12.46% |
| 1989 | $26.40 | 4.90% |
| 1990 | $26.84 | 1.67% |
| 1991 | $27.84 | 3.74% |
| 1992 | $28.23 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $28.54 | 1.12% |
| 1994 | $30.73 | 7.66% |
| 1995 | $30.84 | 0.37% |
| 1996 | $31.72 | 2.85% |
| 1997 | $32.73 | 3.17% |
| 1998 | $33.12 | 1.20% |
| 1999 | $33.42 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $33.17 | -0.76% |
| 2001 | $34.03 | 2.60% |
| 2002 | $34.29 | 0.77% |
| 2003 | $35.28 | 2.89% |
| 2004 | $36.19 | 2.58% |
| 2005 | $36.36 | 0.48% |
| 2006 | $37.70 | 3.69% |
| 2007 | $39.92 | 5.87% |
| 2008 | $48.14 | 20.58% |
| 2009 | $50.59 | 5.09% |
| 2010 | $49.38 | -2.39% |
| 2011 | $51.51 | 4.31% |
| 2012 | $52.67 | 2.26% |
| 2013 | $52.68 | 0.02% |
| 2014 | $52.40 | -0.54% |
| 2015 | $53.17 | 1.48% |
| 2016 | $52.61 | -1.05% |
| 2017 | $51.55 | -2.03% |
| 2018 | $51.98 | 0.84% |
| 2019 | $52.38 | 0.76% |
| 2020 | $53.68 | 2.49% |
| 2021 | $53.69 | 0.02%* |