According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 756.24% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $818,942,865.86 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $108,291,720 in the year 1970 would cost $927,234,585.86 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.89% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.45%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $108,291,720 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 | $108,291,720.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $111,619,621.69 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $116,229,215.26 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $131,676,975.15 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $149,800,547.89 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $162,437,580.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $167,451,918.36 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $177,435,623.45 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $194,772,192.41 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $215,639,035.47 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $234,099,895.54 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $252,290,925.75 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $262,566,946.52 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $268,413,260.31 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $278,509,394.50 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $285,007,797.13 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $294,294,441.73 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $306,279,384.99 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $318,916,417.10 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $336,995,018.20 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $356,400,282.81 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $369,104,772.38 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $374,209,054.04 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $382,034,120.18 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $390,916,019.98 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $401,686,728.84 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $414,750,991.57 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $425,634,129.54 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $434,673,430.09 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $444,027,532.15 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $454,281,067.10 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $468,334,706.01 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $476,946,775.94 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $487,155,339.24 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $503,592,475.32 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $515,824,762.62 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $527,922,135.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $548,562,995.54 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $578,043,707.39 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $588,901,661.24 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $593,582,534.86 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $614,850,300.13 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $630,511,000.76 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $639,404,368.32 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $654,198,465.36 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $665,951,804.65 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $668,240,861.36 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $674,135,294.81 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $683,604,299.42 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $696,196,135.03 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $719,432,983.75 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $746,925,499.19 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $818,445,029.76 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $864,771,894.79 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $884,122,518.85 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $908,930,901.69 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $927,234,585.86 | 2.01%* |
* 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 34.983 | 36.258 | 38.058 | 40.133 | 41.367 | 43.075 | 48.800 | 55.517 | 60.200 | 62.058 | 65.758 | 72.183 | 79.917 | 86.758 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.475 | 103.217 | 105.625 | 109.067 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.083 | 136.792 | 138.683 | 141.583 | 144.875 | 148.867 | 153.708 | 157.742 | 161.092 | 164.558 | 168.358 | 173.567 | 176.758 | 180.542 | 186.633 | 191.167 | 195.650 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.448 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 336.853 | 343.637 |