According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for sugar and sugar substitutes are 311.48% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $62.30 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Sugar and sugar substitutes experienced an average inflation rate of 3.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, sugar and sugar substitutes costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $82.30 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for sugar and sugar substitutes was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 9.87%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for sugar and sugar substitutes during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for sugar and sugar substitutes was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Sugar and sugar substitutes, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 9.87% |
| 1979 | $21.02 | 5.10% |
| 1980 | $32.78 | 55.94% |
| 1981 | $32.64 | -0.43% |
| 1982 | $29.66 | -9.13% |
| 1983 | $30.73 | 3.60% |
| 1984 | $31.24 | 1.67% |
| 1985 | $31.08 | -0.52% |
| 1986 | $31.10 | 0.06% |
| 1987 | $31.32 | 0.73% |
| 1988 | $32.24 | 2.93% |
| 1989 | $34.75 | 7.78% |
| 1990 | $36.17 | 4.10% |
| 1991 | $36.63 | 1.26% |
| 1992 | $36.77 | 0.38% |
| 1993 | $37.17 | 1.10% |
| 1994 | $37.83 | 1.76% |
| 1995 | $38.73 | 2.38% |
| 1996 | $40.49 | 4.56% |
| 1997 | $41.17 | 1.67% |
| 1998 | $41.41 | 0.58% |
| 1999 | $41.90 | 1.20% |
| 2000 | $41.88 | -0.06% |
| 2001 | $42.84 | 2.29% |
| 2002 | $43.74 | 2.11% |
| 2003 | $44.51 | 1.76% |
| 2004 | $44.86 | 0.79% |
| 2005 | $45.54 | 1.51% |
| 2006 | $50.07 | 9.95% |
| 2007 | $51.03 | 1.92% |
| 2008 | $52.07 | 2.05% |
| 2009 | $54.45 | 4.56% |
| 2010 | $57.30 | 5.25% |
| 2011 | $60.34 | 5.29% |
| 2012 | $61.45 | 1.85% |
| 2013 | $58.10 | -5.46% |
| 2014 | $55.49 | -4.49% |
| 2015 | $58.00 | 4.52% |
| 2016 | $57.52 | -0.83% |
| 2017 | $57.29 | -0.39% |
| 2018 | $57.16 | -0.24% |
| 2019 | $57.47 | 0.55% |
| 2020 | $61.44 | 6.90% |
| 2021 | $63.96 | 4.11% |
| 2022 | $71.18 | 11.30% |
| 2023 | $78.53 | 10.32% |
| 2024 | $82.30 | 4.80%* |
* 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 Sugar and sugar substitutes:
| 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 | 59.600 | 65.485 | 68.823 | 107.323 | 106.862 | 97.108 | 100.608 | 102.285 | 101.754 | 101.815 | 102.562 | 105.562 | 113.777 | 118.438 | 119.931 | 120.392 | 121.715 | 123.862 | 126.808 | 132.585 | 134.800 | 135.577 | 137.200 | 137.123 | 140.262 | 143.215 | 145.738 | 146.885 | 149.100 | 163.931 | 167.072 | 170.491 | 178.269 | 187.621 | 197.554 | 201.211 | 190.218 | 181.686 | 189.906 | 188.325 | 187.596 | 187.142 | 188.177 | 201.155 | 209.418 | 233.076 | 257.123 | 269.455 |