According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 752.40% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $12,737,248,899.56 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 $1,692,885,618.87 in the year 1970 would cost $14,430,134,518.43 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 $1,692,885,618.87 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 | $1,692,885,618.87 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $1,744,909,512.47 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $1,816,969,635.37 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $2,058,458,925.27 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $2,341,778,237.73 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $2,539,328,428.31 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $2,617,715,781.50 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $2,773,787,462.31 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $3,044,803,826.96 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $3,371,007,700.37 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $3,659,599,704.75 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $3,943,973,555.59 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $4,104,614,902.73 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,196,008,229.33 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $4,353,837,474.11 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $4,455,424,671.76 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $4,600,599,455.93 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $4,787,955,775.46 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $4,985,505,966.04 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $5,268,122,252.91 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $5,571,477,794.66 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $5,770,082,523.62 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $5,849,875,928.00 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $5,972,202,380.52 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $6,111,049,934.40 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $6,279,424,563.02 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $6,483,653,496.69 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $6,653,785,689.28 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $6,795,093,832.72 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $6,941,323,155.28 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $7,101,612,989.62 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $7,321,308,486.26 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $7,455,937,886.60 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $7,615,524,695.35 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $7,872,480,548.22 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $8,063,703,508.49 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $8,252,817,391.99 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $8,575,488,561.81 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $9,036,349,956.57 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $9,206,088,454.84 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $9,279,262,873.29 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $9,611,734,219.82 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $9,856,552,335.89 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $9,995,579,161.29 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $10,226,849,974.25 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $10,410,585,712.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $10,446,369,714.49 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $10,538,515,278.47 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $10,686,540,831.41 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $10,883,384,481.27 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $11,246,637,803.22 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $11,676,418,436.69 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $12,794,457,606.88 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $13,518,668,872.25 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $13,821,170,237.91 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $14,208,990,789.08 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $14,430,134,518.43 | 1.56%* |
* 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 | 342.096 |