According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $105,973.74 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 $14,400 in the year 1970 would cost $120,373.74 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 $14,400 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 | $14,400.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $14,844.39 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $15,457.16 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $17,510.75 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $19,920.41 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $21,601.38 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $22,269.35 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $23,597.01 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $25,901.78 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $28,675.79 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $31,129.61 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $33,550.32 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $34,916.62 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $35,695.00 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $37,036.46 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $37,900.40 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $39,136.98 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $40,729.61 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $42,410.58 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $44,814.72 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $47,395.51 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $49,084.76 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $49,763.77 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $50,804.37 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $51,985.74 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $53,418.29 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $55,154.46 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $56,600.81 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $57,804.26 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $59,049.11 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $60,412.65 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $62,281.31 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $63,426.80 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $64,782.06 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $66,968.14 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $68,596.66 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $70,205.87 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $72,949.37 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $76,869.78 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $78,313.70 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $78,936.18 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $81,764.43 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $83,847.03 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $85,029.70 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $86,997.06 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $88,560.03 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $88,864.45 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $89,648.29 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $90,907.50 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $92,582.01 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $95,672.12 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $99,328.15 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $108,838.99 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $114,999.66 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $117,572.95 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $120,373.74 | 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 |