According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $13,685,153,535,427.60 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 $1,859,575,960,187.32 in the year 1970 would cost $15,544,729,495,614.92 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 $1,859,575,960,187.32 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 | $1,859,575,960,187.32 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $1,916,963,679,104.35 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $1,996,094,571,027.22 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $2,261,289,992,606.55 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $2,572,466,878,411.33 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $2,789,542,163,010.54 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $2,875,801,964,115.64 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $3,047,252,229,948.51 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $3,344,884,188,307.04 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $3,703,111,874,714.60 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $4,019,991,887,865.17 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $4,332,594,555,506.40 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $4,509,035,057,766.84 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,609,552,677,236.43 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $4,782,785,170,364.86 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $4,894,352,599,066.91 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $5,054,040,164,749.09 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $5,259,709,194,656.72 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $5,476,784,479,255.93 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $5,787,248,474,142.48 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $6,120,524,978,412.20 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $6,338,669,599,388.75 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $6,426,355,182,330.31 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $6,560,735,120,415.53 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $6,713,293,776,915.47 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $6,898,288,970,194.60 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $7,122,493,163,976.05 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $7,309,270,584,550.73 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $7,464,680,804,723.57 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $7,625,437,706,783.08 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $7,801,521,763,584.41 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $8,042,835,339,403.24 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $8,190,760,204,934.72 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $8,365,774,925,358.71 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $8,648,079,728,975.42 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $8,858,382,549,851.50 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $9,066,190,252,513.80 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $9,420,479,216,598.17 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $9,926,749,395,538.73 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $10,113,213,144,109.40 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $10,193,598,724,048.33 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $10,558,830,563,727.45 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $10,827,772,227,082.05 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $10,980,498,412,947.77 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $11,234,558,478,384.44 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $11,436,395,719,606.61 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $11,475,708,089,292.07 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $11,576,931,470,770.70 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $11,739,541,889,217.60 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $11,955,783,091,442.48 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $12,354,830,911,827.55 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $12,826,960,744,694.36 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $14,055,164,863,156.59 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $14,850,736,870,076.21 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $15,183,043,842,697.15 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $15,544,729,495,614.92 | 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 |