According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 754.05% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $1,176,322,923,588.04 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.90% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $156,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $1,332,322,923,588.04 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% 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 $156,000,000,000 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 | $156,000,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $160,794,019,933.55 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $167,434,385,382.06 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $189,687,707,641.20 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $215,795,681,063.12 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $234,000,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $241,223,421,926.91 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $255,605,481,727.57 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $280,579,734,219.27 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $310,639,534,883.72 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $337,233,388,704.32 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $363,438,538,205.98 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $378,241,694,352.16 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $386,663,621,262.46 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $401,207,641,196.01 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $410,568,936,877.08 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $423,946,843,853.82 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $441,211,794,019.93 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $459,416,112,956.81 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $485,459,302,325.58 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $513,413,621,262.46 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $531,715,116,279.07 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $539,068,106,312.29 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $550,340,531,561.46 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $563,135,382,059.80 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $578,651,162,790.70 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $597,470,930,232.56 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $613,148,671,096.35 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $626,170,265,780.73 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $639,645,348,837.21 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $654,416,112,956.81 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $674,661,129,568.11 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $687,067,275,747.51 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $701,773,255,813.95 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $725,451,827,242.52 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $743,073,089,701.00 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $760,500,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $790,234,260,797.34 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $832,702,799,003.32 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $848,344,260,797.34 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $855,087,308,970.10 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $885,724,659,468.44 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $908,284,734,219.27 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $921,096,104,651.16 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $942,407,790,697.67 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $959,339,102,990.03 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $962,636,611,295.68 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $971,127,857,142.86 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $984,768,463,455.15 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,002,907,674,418.60 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,036,381,594,684.39 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,075,986,029,900.33 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $1,179,013,729,235.88 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $1,245,750,049,833.89 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $1,273,625,656,146.18 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,309,363,455,149.50 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $1,332,322,923,588.04 | 1.75%* |
* 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 | 342.760 |