According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies were 346.55% higher in 2021 versus 1978 (a $69.31 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2021: Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies experienced an average inflation rate of 3.54% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, cakes, cupcakes, and cookies costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $89.31 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.28% during this same period, inflation for cakes, cupcakes, and cookies was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies:
| Year | 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 | 66.523 | 73.054 | 81.500 | 90.877 | 95.592 | 99.385 | 105.031 | 110.154 | 113.354 | 118.285 | 125.031 | 134.477 | 142.685 | 151.100 | 155.600 | 159.292 | 165.069 | 169.069 | 174.123 | 179.208 | 181.169 | 185.000 | 187.908 | 192.008 | 196.662 | 202.762 | 206.392 | 209.800 | 214.223 | 221.742 | 239.896 | 250.671 | 251.663 | 255.964 | 266.214 | 270.993 | 273.523 | 278.789 | 281.581 | 282.710 | 287.462 | 291.213 | 294.918 | 297.056 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies, 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 | - |
| 1979 | $21.96 | 9.82% |
| 1980 | $24.50 | 11.56% |
| 1981 | $27.32 | 11.51% |
| 1982 | $28.74 | 5.19% |
| 1983 | $29.88 | 3.97% |
| 1984 | $31.58 | 5.68% |
| 1985 | $33.12 | 4.88% |
| 1986 | $34.08 | 2.91% |
| 1987 | $35.56 | 4.35% |
| 1988 | $37.59 | 5.70% |
| 1989 | $40.43 | 7.56% |
| 1990 | $42.90 | 6.10% |
| 1991 | $45.43 | 5.90% |
| 1992 | $46.78 | 2.98% |
| 1993 | $47.89 | 2.37% |
| 1994 | $49.63 | 3.63% |
| 1995 | $50.83 | 2.42% |
| 1996 | $52.35 | 2.99% |
| 1997 | $53.88 | 2.92% |
| 1998 | $54.47 | 1.09% |
| 1999 | $55.62 | 2.11% |
| 2000 | $56.49 | 1.57% |
| 2001 | $57.73 | 2.18% |
| 2002 | $59.13 | 2.42% |
| 2003 | $60.96 | 3.10% |
| 2004 | $62.05 | 1.79% |
| 2005 | $63.08 | 1.65% |
| 2006 | $64.41 | 2.11% |
| 2007 | $66.67 | 3.51% |
| 2008 | $72.12 | 8.19% |
| 2009 | $75.36 | 4.49% |
| 2010 | $75.66 | 0.40% |
| 2011 | $76.96 | 1.71% |
| 2012 | $80.04 | 4.00% |
| 2013 | $81.47 | 1.80% |
| 2014 | $82.23 | 0.93% |
| 2015 | $83.82 | 1.93% |
| 2016 | $84.66 | 1.00% |
| 2017 | $85.00 | 0.40% |
| 2018 | $86.42 | 1.68% |
| 2019 | $87.55 | 1.30% |
| 2020 | $88.67 | 1.27% |
| 2021 | $89.31 | 0.72%* |