According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $3,745,606,990,971.25 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 $508,963,286,286 in the year 1970 would cost $4,254,570,277,257.25 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 $508,963,286,286 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 | $508,963,286,286.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $524,670,223,048.90 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $546,328,235,231.28 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $618,911,843,626.30 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $704,080,513,154.32 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $763,493,708,735.72 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $787,102,893,186.78 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $834,028,586,248.61 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $915,490,028,466.13 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,013,536,434,967.46 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,100,266,042,310.43 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,185,824,946,292.19 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $1,234,116,459,942.09 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,261,627,988,930.53 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $1,309,041,475,059.53 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $1,339,577,321,064.42 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $1,383,283,579,882.92 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $1,439,574,899,834.43 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $1,498,988,095,415.83 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $1,583,961,647,716.98 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $1,675,178,951,277.92 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $1,734,884,822,699.62 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $1,758,884,241,604.43 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $1,795,663,838,869.10 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $1,837,418,925,418.92 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $1,888,051,845,791.25 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $1,949,416,213,641.34 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $2,000,536,927,080.84 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $2,043,072,482,538.13 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $2,087,071,417,196.93 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $2,135,265,372,233.41 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $2,201,312,553,528.33 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $2,241,799,378,103.51 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $2,289,700,657,299.68 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $2,366,967,079,139.53 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $2,424,526,661,065.68 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $2,481,403,332,697.80 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $2,578,371,716,520.68 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $2,716,937,141,939.62 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $2,767,972,003,799.29 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $2,789,973,422,300.96 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $2,889,936,855,556.27 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $2,963,545,804,978.48 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $3,005,346,744,076.61 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $3,074,882,621,387.94 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $3,130,125,186,245.03 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $3,140,884,925,720.69 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $3,168,589,620,763.72 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $3,213,095,860,212.38 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $3,272,280,768,638.35 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $3,381,499,587,550.16 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $3,510,720,848,974.37 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $3,846,878,563,284.45 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $4,064,625,486,124.95 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $4,155,577,430,257.35 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $4,254,570,277,257.25 | 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 |