According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for sugar and sugar substitutes are 349% higher in 2026 versus 1977 (a $69.80 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2026: Sugar and sugar substitutes experienced an average inflation rate of 3.11% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, sugar and sugar substitutes costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $89.80 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for sugar and sugar substitutes was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Sugar and sugar substitutes, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20.00 | - |
| 1978 | $21.97 | 9.87% |
| 1979 | $23.10 | 5.10% |
| 1980 | $36.02 | 55.94% |
| 1981 | $35.86 | -0.43% |
| 1982 | $32.59 | -9.12% |
| 1983 | $33.76 | 3.60% |
| 1984 | $34.32 | 1.66% |
| 1985 | $34.15 | -0.51% |
| 1986 | $34.17 | 0.06% |
| 1987 | $34.42 | 0.73% |
| 1988 | $35.42 | 2.93% |
| 1989 | $38.18 | 7.78% |
| 1990 | $39.75 | 4.10% |
| 1991 | $40.25 | 1.26% |
| 1992 | $40.40 | 0.38% |
| 1993 | $40.84 | 1.10% |
| 1994 | $41.56 | 1.76% |
| 1995 | $42.55 | 2.38% |
| 1996 | $44.49 | 4.55% |
| 1997 | $45.23 | 1.67% |
| 1998 | $45.49 | 0.57% |
| 1999 | $46.04 | 1.20% |
| 2000 | $46.02 | -0.05% |
| 2001 | $47.07 | 2.29% |
| 2002 | $48.06 | 2.11% |
| 2003 | $48.91 | 1.76% |
| 2004 | $49.29 | 0.78% |
| 2005 | $50.03 | 1.51% |
| 2006 | $55.01 | 9.95% |
| 2007 | $56.06 | 1.91% |
| 2008 | $57.21 | 2.05% |
| 2009 | $59.82 | 4.56% |
| 2010 | $62.96 | 5.25% |
| 2011 | $66.29 | 5.29% |
| 2012 | $67.52 | 1.85% |
| 2013 | $63.83 | -5.46% |
| 2014 | $60.97 | -4.49% |
| 2015 | $63.73 | 4.52% |
| 2016 | $63.20 | -0.83% |
| 2017 | $62.95 | -0.39% |
| 2018 | $62.80 | -0.24% |
| 2019 | $63.15 | 0.55% |
| 2020 | $67.50 | 6.90% |
| 2021 | $70.27 | 4.11% |
| 2022 | $78.21 | 11.30% |
| 2023 | $86.28 | 10.32% |
| 2024 | $90.24 | 4.58% |
| 2025 | $92.53 | 2.55% |
| 2026 | $89.80 | -2.96%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 59.600 | 65.483 | 68.825 | 107.325 | 106.858 | 97.108 | 100.608 | 102.283 | 101.758 | 101.817 | 102.558 | 105.558 | 113.775 | 118.442 | 119.933 | 120.392 | 121.717 | 123.858 | 126.808 | 132.583 | 134.800 | 135.575 | 137.200 | 137.125 | 140.258 | 143.217 | 145.742 | 146.883 | 149.100 | 163.933 | 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 | 268.904 | 275.753 | 267.602 |