According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 754.05% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $2,149,051,495.02 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 $285,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $2,434,051,495.02 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 $285,000,000 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 | $285,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $293,758,305.65 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $305,889,742.52 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $346,544,850.50 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $394,242,109.63 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $427,500,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $440,696,636.21 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $466,971,553.16 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $512,597,591.36 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $567,514,534.88 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $616,099,460.13 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $663,974,252.49 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $691,018,480.07 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $706,404,692.69 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $732,975,498.34 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $750,077,865.45 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $774,518,272.43 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $806,060,008.31 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $839,317,898.67 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $886,896,802.33 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $937,967,192.69 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $971,402,616.28 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $984,835,963.46 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $1,005,429,817.28 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $1,028,805,024.92 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $1,057,151,162.79 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $1,091,533,430.23 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $1,120,175,456.81 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $1,143,964,908.64 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $1,168,582,848.84 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $1,195,567,898.67 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $1,232,553,986.71 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $1,255,219,061.46 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $1,282,085,755.81 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $1,325,344,684.39 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $1,357,537,375.42 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $1,389,375,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $1,443,697,207.23 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,521,283,959.72 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,549,859,707.23 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,562,178,737.54 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,618,150,820.18 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,659,366,341.36 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,682,771,729.65 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,721,706,540.70 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,752,638,745.85 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,758,663,039.87 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,774,175,892.86 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,799,096,231.31 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,832,235,174.42 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,893,389,451.83 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,965,743,708.47 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $2,153,967,389.95 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $2,275,889,514.12 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $2,326,816,102.57 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $2,392,106,312.29 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $2,434,051,495.02 | 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 |