According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $86,604,091,606.29 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 $11,768,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $98,372,091,606.29 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 $11,768,000,000 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 | $11,768,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $12,131,168,104.27 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $12,631,934,061.72 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $14,310,176,729.92 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $16,279,405,022.04 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $17,653,127,851.26 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $18,199,007,858.92 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $19,284,000,766.72 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $21,167,512,363.43 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $23,434,493,387.00 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $25,439,812,919.30 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $27,418,064,021.47 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $28,534,636,764.42 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $29,170,744,872.53 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $30,267,016,292.89 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $30,973,051,178.84 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $31,983,605,903.78 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $33,285,146,252.64 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $34,658,869,081.85 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $36,623,585,968.95 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $38,732,667,816.75 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $40,113,157,753.50 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $40,668,060,571.21 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $41,518,460,417.86 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $42,483,901,092.58 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $43,654,610,695.80 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $45,073,447,575.23 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $46,255,435,691.01 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $47,238,921,985.82 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $48,256,243,818.29 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $49,370,560,858.73 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $50,897,671,458.69 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $51,833,788,000.77 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $52,941,337,933.68 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $54,727,854,322.41 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $56,058,718,803.91 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $57,373,793,367.84 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $59,615,848,878.67 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $62,819,690,826.15 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $63,999,693,923.71 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $64,508,399,954.00 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $66,819,705,531.91 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $68,521,655,633.51 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $69,488,156,488.40 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $71,095,931,010.16 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $72,373,222,557.03 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $72,622,003,986.97 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $73,262,578,386.05 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $74,291,629,871.57 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $75,660,074,356.91 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $78,185,378,432.05 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $81,173,169,193.02 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $88,945,643,335.25 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $93,980,281,111.75 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $96,083,227,448.73 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $98,372,091,606.29 | 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 |