According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $7,359,287,186,122.29 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $1,000,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $8,359,287,186,122.29 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.92% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.44%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $1,000,000,000,000 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $1,000,000,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $1,030,860,647,881.92 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $1,073,413,839,371.29 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $1,216,024,535,173.47 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $1,383,362,085,489.75 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $1,500,095,840,521.37 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $1,546,482,652,865.63 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $1,638,681,234,425.92 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,798,734,905,117.88 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,991,374,353,076.48 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $2,161,778,800,076.67 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $2,329,883,074,563.93 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $2,424,765,190,722.64 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $2,478,819,244,776.69 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,571,976,231,550.70 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,631,972,397,929.84 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,717,845,505,079.55 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,828,445,466,743.34 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,945,179,221,774.97 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $3,112,133,410,005.75 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $3,291,355,184,972.21 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $3,408,663,983,132.07 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $3,455,817,519,647.31 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $3,528,081,272,762.12 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $3,610,120,759,056.93 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $3,709,603,220,241.52 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,830,170,596,128.04 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,930,611,462,526.36 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $4,014,184,397,163.12 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $4,100,632,547,441.06 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $4,195,322,982,557.03 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $4,325,091,048,495.30 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $4,404,638,681,234.43 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $4,498,754,073,222.16 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $4,650,565,459,076.10 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $4,763,657,274,295.57 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $4,875,407,322,215.83 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $5,065,928,694,652.10 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $5,338,179,030,093.92 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $5,438,451,217,174.62 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $5,481,679,125,934.44 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $5,678,085,106,382.98 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $5,822,710,369,944.41 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $5,904,839,946,329.31 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $6,041,462,526,356.14 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $6,150,001,916,810.43 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $6,171,142,419,014.76 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $6,225,576,001,533.45 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $6,313,020,893,233.66 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $6,429,306,114,625.26 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $6,643,896,875,599.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $6,897,788,000,766.73 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $7,558,263,369,752.73 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $7,986,087,789,917.58 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $8,164,788,192,447.77 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $8,359,287,186,122.29 | 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 |