According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $325,280,493,626.61 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 $44,200,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $369,480,493,626.61 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 $44,200,000,000 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 | $44,200,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $45,564,040,636.38 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $47,444,891,700.21 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $53,748,284,454.67 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $61,144,604,178.65 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $66,304,236,151.04 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $68,354,533,256.66 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $72,429,710,561.63 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $79,504,082,806.21 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $88,018,746,405.98 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $95,550,622,963.39 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $102,980,831,895.73 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $107,174,621,429.94 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $109,563,810,619.13 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $113,681,349,434.54 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $116,333,179,988.50 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $120,128,771,324.52 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $125,017,289,630.06 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $130,176,921,602.45 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $137,556,296,722.25 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $145,477,899,175.77 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $150,662,948,054.44 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $152,747,134,368.41 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $155,941,192,256.09 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $159,567,337,550.32 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $163,964,462,334.68 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $169,293,540,348.86 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $173,733,026,643.66 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $177,426,950,354.61 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $181,247,958,596.89 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $185,433,275,829.02 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $191,169,024,343.49 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $194,685,029,710.56 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $198,844,930,036.42 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $205,554,993,291.16 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $210,553,651,523.86 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $215,493,003,641.94 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $223,914,048,303.62 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $235,947,513,130.15 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $240,379,543,799.12 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $242,290,217,366.30 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $250,971,361,702.13 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $257,363,798,351.54 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $260,993,925,627.76 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $267,032,643,664.94 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $271,830,084,723.02 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $272,764,494,920.45 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $275,170,459,267.78 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $279,035,523,480.93 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $284,175,330,266.44 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $293,660,241,901.48 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $304,882,229,633.89 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $334,075,240,943.07 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $352,985,080,314.36 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $360,883,638,106.19 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $369,480,493,626.61 | 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 |