Price of a pound of white sugar by year, 1980–2025
A pound of white sugar cost $0.427 on average in 1980 and $1.02 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 139% over those years while prices in general rose 291%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 39% less in 2025 than in 1980.
- Average in 1980
- $0.427
- Average in 2025
- $1.02
- Highest year, 2025
- $1.02
- Biggest one-year rise, 2023
- +18%
- Against inflation
- Trailed it by 39%
Every year
The table lists all 46 years with data, from 1980 to 2025. Select a year to see what everything else cost that year.
| Year | Average price | In 2025 dollars | Change from year before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $0.427 | $1.67 | — |
| 1981 | $0.40 | $1.42 | −6% |
| 1982 | $0.345 | $1.15 | −14% |
| 1983 | $0.362 | $1.17 | +5% |
| 1984 | $0.363 | $1.12 | 0% |
| 1985 | $0.353 | $1.06 | −3% |
| 1986 | $0.351 | $1.03 | −1% |
| 1987 | $0.353 | $1.00 | +1% |
| 1988 | $0.366 | $0.996 | +4% |
| 1989 | $0.40 | $1.04 | +9% |
| 1990 | $0.428 | $1.05 | +7% |
| 1991 | $0.428 | $1.01 | 0% |
| 1992 | $0.415 | $0.952 | −3% |
| 1993 | $0.405 | $0.902 | −2% |
| 1994 | $0.40 | $0.869 | −1% |
| 1995 | $0.398 | $0.841 | −1% |
| 1996 | $0.418 | $0.858 | +5% |
| 1997 | $0.433 | $0.869 | +4% |
| 1998 | $0.43 | $0.849 | −1% |
| 1999 | $0.433 | $0.837 | +1% |
| 2000 | $0.424 | $0.793 | −2% |
| 2001 | $0.434 | $0.789 | +2% |
| 2002 | $0.431 | $0.771 | −1% |
| 2003 | $0.427 | $0.747 | −1% |
| 2004 | $0.426 | $0.726 | 0% |
| 2005 | $0.435 | $0.717 | +2% |
| 2006 | $0.496 | $0.792 | +14% |
| 2007 | $0.515 | $0.80 | +4% |
| 2008 | $0.529 | $0.791 | +3% |
| 2009 | $0.57 | $0.855 | +8% |
| 2010 | $0.629 | $0.929 | +10% |
| 2011 | $0.683 | $0.978 | +9% |
| 2012 | $0.694 | $0.973 | +2% |
| 2013 | $0.643 | $0.889 | −7% |
| 2014 | $0.609 | $0.828 | −5% |
| 2015 | $0.654 | $0.888 | +7% |
| 2016 | $0.642 | $0.861 | −2% |
| 2017 | $0.648 | $0.851 | +1% |
| 2018 | $0.616 | $0.79 | −5% |
| 2019 | $0.59 | $0.743 | −4% |
| 2020 | $0.634 | $0.789 | +7% |
| 2021 | $0.684 | $0.813 | +8% |
| 2022 | $0.783 | $0.861 | +14% |
| 2023 | $0.921 | $0.973 | +18% |
| 2024 | $0.997 | $1.02 | +8% |
| 2025 | $1.02 | $1.02 | +2% |
Decade by decade
Across the 1980s the yearly average ran from $0.345 in 1982 to $0.427 in 1980, for a decade average of $0.372. The 1990s averaged $0.419: the most expensive year was 1997 at $0.433 and the cheapest 1995 at $0.398. In the 2000s, a pound of white sugar averaged $0.469, from a low of $0.424 in 2000 to a high of $0.57 in 2009. Across the 2010s the yearly average ran from $0.59 in 2019 to $0.694 in 2012, for a decade average of $0.641. The 2020s averaged $0.84: the most expensive year was 2025 at $1.02 and the cheapest 2020 at $0.634.
Every five years in this record: 1980 $0.427, 1985 $0.353, 1990 $0.428, 1995 $0.398, 2000 $0.424, 2005 $0.435, 2010 $0.629, 2015 $0.654, 2020 $0.634 and 2025 $1.02. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 49%, from $0.684 to $1.02.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1980 average of $0.427 is worth $1.67. The actual 2025 average was $1.02. So after adjusting for inflation, a pound of white sugar cost 39% less in 2025 than in 1980, even though the price on the shelf went up.
Highs, lows and big moves
The highest yearly average in this record is $1.02 in 2025, and the lowest is $0.345 in 1982. The biggest one-year increase was 18%, from $0.783 in 2022 to $0.921 in 2023. The biggest one-year decrease was 14%, from $0.40 in 1981 to $0.345 in 1982.
Of the 4 items in pantry and snacks tracked here, 1 rose faster than inflation over their full records.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000715211), averaged over each calendar year. A year is included only when the Bureau published at least nine months of prices for it. Values in 2025 dollars use the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) annual average. See how Sticker Shock builds its data. Figures may contain errors and are not financial advice.