According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 825.32% higher in 2025 versus 1968 (a $1,403,046,512,306.39 difference in value).
Between 1968 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.98% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $170,000,000,000 in the year 1968 would cost $1,573,046,512,306.39 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.98% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1968: Pricing changed by 3.63%, which is below the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1968-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1968 (4.27%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $170,000,000,000 beginning in 1968. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | $170,000,000,000.00 | 3.63% |
| 1969 | $178,476,554,211.75 | 4.99% |
| 1970 | $188,179,503,500.95 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $193,986,844,897.09 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $201,994,483,343.94 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $228,830,893,273.92 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $260,320,390,409.51 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $282,287,290,473.16 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $291,016,337,789.09 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $308,366,221,090.60 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $338,485,041,374.92 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $374,735,837,046.47 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $406,802,461,277.32 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $438,436,240,186.72 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $456,291,109,696.58 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $466,462,974,750.69 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $483,993,210,269.47 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $495,283,259,070.66 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $511,442,817,738.17 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $532,255,463,611.29 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $554,222,363,674.94 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $585,639,719,923.62 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $619,365,584,553.36 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $641,440,695,947.38 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $650,314,025,037.13 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $663,912,582,219.39 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $679,350,732,017.82 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $698,071,292,170.59 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $720,759,601,103.33 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $739,660,513,473.37 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $755,387,226,819.44 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $771,654,996,817.31 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $789,473,795,883.73 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $813,893,486,102.27 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $828,862,720,135.79 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $846,573,307,871.84 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $875,141,099,087.63 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $896,422,660,725.65 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $917,451,729,259.50 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $953,303,946,530.87 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,004,535,879,482.28 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,023,405,049,862.08 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,031,539,656,269.89 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,068,499,236,155.32 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,095,714,746,446.00 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,111,169,849,352.85 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,136,879,418,629.32 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,157,304,307,235.31 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,161,282,516,443.88 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,171,525,800,976.02 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,187,981,137,279.86 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,209,863,632,505.83 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,250,245,215,361.77 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,298,022,321,239.13 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $1,422,310,248,249.52 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $1,502,818,035,221.73 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $1,536,445,788,245.28 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,573,046,512,306.39 | 2.38%* |
* 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 Food and beverages:
| Year | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 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 |
| CPI | 34.985 | 36.254 | 38.062 | 40.131 | 41.369 | 43.077 | 48.800 | 55.515 | 60.200 | 62.062 | 65.762 | 72.185 | 79.915 | 86.754 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.477 | 103.215 | 105.623 | 109.069 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.085 | 136.792 | 138.685 | 141.585 | 144.877 | 148.869 | 153.708 | 157.738 | 161.092 | 164.562 | 168.362 | 173.569 | 176.762 | 180.538 | 186.631 | 191.169 | 195.654 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.449 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 335.465 |