According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 744.33% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $3,721,640,365.45 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $500,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $4,221,640,365.45 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% 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 $500,000,000 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 | $500,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $515,365,448.50 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $536,648,671.10 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $607,973,421.93 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $691,652,823.92 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $750,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $773,151,993.36 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $819,248,338.87 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $899,294,019.93 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $995,639,534.88 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,080,876,245.85 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,164,867,109.63 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $1,212,313,122.92 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,239,306,478.41 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $1,285,921,926.91 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $1,315,926,079.73 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $1,358,803,986.71 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $1,414,140,365.45 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $1,472,487,541.53 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $1,555,959,302.33 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $1,645,556,478.41 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $1,704,215,116.28 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $1,727,782,392.03 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $1,763,911,960.13 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $1,804,921,096.35 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $1,854,651,162.79 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $1,914,970,930.23 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $1,965,220,099.67 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $2,006,955,980.07 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $2,050,145,348.84 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $2,097,487,541.53 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $2,162,375,415.28 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $2,202,138,704.32 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $2,249,273,255.81 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $2,325,166,112.96 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $2,381,644,518.27 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $2,437,500,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $2,532,802,117.94 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $2,668,919,227.57 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $2,719,052,117.94 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $2,740,664,451.83 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $2,838,861,088.04 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $2,911,169,019.93 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $2,952,231,104.65 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $3,020,537,790.70 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $3,074,804,817.28 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $3,085,373,754.15 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $3,112,589,285.71 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $3,156,309,177.74 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $3,214,447,674.42 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $3,321,735,880.40 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $3,448,673,172.76 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $3,778,890,157.81 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $3,992,788,621.26 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $4,082,133,513.29 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $4,192,230,443.97 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $4,221,640,365.45 | 0.70%* |
* 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 | 336.496 | 338.857 |