According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $31,203,377,669.16 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 $4,240,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $35,443,377,669.16 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 $4,240,000,000 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 | $4,240,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $4,370,849,147.02 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $4,551,274,678.93 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $5,155,944,029.14 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $5,865,455,242.48 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $6,360,406,363.81 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $6,557,086,448.15 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $6,948,008,433.97 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $7,626,635,997.70 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $8,443,427,257.04 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $9,165,942,112.33 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $9,878,704,236.15 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $10,281,004,408.66 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $10,510,193,597.85 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $10,905,179,221.77 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $11,159,562,967.22 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $11,523,664,941.54 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $11,992,608,778.99 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $12,487,559,900.33 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $13,195,445,658.42 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $13,955,345,984.28 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $14,452,735,288.48 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $14,652,666,283.30 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $14,959,064,596.51 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $15,306,912,018.40 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $15,728,717,653.82 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $16,239,923,327.58 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $16,665,792,601.11 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $17,020,141,843.97 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $17,386,682,001.15 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $17,788,169,446.04 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $18,338,386,045.62 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $18,675,668,008.43 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $19,074,717,270.46 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $19,718,397,546.48 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $20,197,906,843.01 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $20,671,727,046.20 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $21,479,537,665.32 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $22,633,879,087.60 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $23,059,033,160.82 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $23,242,319,493.96 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $24,075,080,851.06 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $24,688,291,968.56 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $25,036,521,372.44 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $25,615,801,111.75 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $26,076,008,127.28 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $26,165,643,856.62 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $26,396,442,246.50 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $26,767,208,587.31 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $27,260,257,926.01 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $28,170,122,752.54 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $29,246,621,123.25 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $32,047,036,687.75 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $33,861,012,229.25 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $34,618,701,935.98 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $35,443,377,669.16 | 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 |