According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for sugar and sugar substitutes are 291.10% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $58.22 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2024: Sugar and sugar substitutes experienced an average inflation rate of 3.08% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, sugar and sugar substitutes costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $78.22 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for sugar and sugar substitutes was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 5.10%, which is above the average yearly change for sugar and sugar substitutes during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for sugar and sugar substitutes was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Sugar and sugar substitutes, 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 | 5.10% |
| 1980 | $31.19 | 55.94% |
| 1981 | $31.05 | -0.43% |
| 1982 | $28.22 | -9.13% |
| 1983 | $29.24 | 3.60% |
| 1984 | $29.72 | 1.67% |
| 1985 | $29.57 | -0.52% |
| 1986 | $29.59 | 0.06% |
| 1987 | $29.80 | 0.73% |
| 1988 | $30.68 | 2.93% |
| 1989 | $33.06 | 7.78% |
| 1990 | $34.42 | 4.10% |
| 1991 | $34.85 | 1.26% |
| 1992 | $34.99 | 0.38% |
| 1993 | $35.37 | 1.10% |
| 1994 | $35.99 | 1.76% |
| 1995 | $36.85 | 2.38% |
| 1996 | $38.53 | 4.56% |
| 1997 | $39.17 | 1.67% |
| 1998 | $39.40 | 0.58% |
| 1999 | $39.87 | 1.20% |
| 2000 | $39.85 | -0.06% |
| 2001 | $40.76 | 2.29% |
| 2002 | $41.62 | 2.11% |
| 2003 | $42.35 | 1.76% |
| 2004 | $42.68 | 0.79% |
| 2005 | $43.33 | 1.51% |
| 2006 | $47.64 | 9.95% |
| 2007 | $48.55 | 1.92% |
| 2008 | $49.54 | 2.05% |
| 2009 | $51.80 | 4.56% |
| 2010 | $54.52 | 5.25% |
| 2011 | $57.41 | 5.29% |
| 2012 | $58.47 | 1.85% |
| 2013 | $55.28 | -5.46% |
| 2014 | $52.80 | -4.49% |
| 2015 | $55.19 | 4.52% |
| 2016 | $54.73 | -0.83% |
| 2017 | $54.52 | -0.39% |
| 2018 | $54.38 | -0.24% |
| 2019 | $54.68 | 0.55% |
| 2020 | $58.46 | 6.90% |
| 2021 | $60.86 | 4.11% |
| 2022 | $67.73 | 11.30% |
| 2023 | $74.72 | 10.32% |
| 2024 | $78.22 | 4.68%* |
* 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 | 269.165 |