According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 754.05% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $414,729,235,880,398.75 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 $55,000,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $469,729,235,880,398.75 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 $55,000,000,000,000 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 | $55,000,000,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $56,690,199,335,548.17 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $59,031,353,820,598.01 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $66,877,076,411,960.13 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $76,081,810,631,229.25 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $82,500,000,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $85,046,719,269,103.00 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $90,117,317,275,747.52 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $98,922,342,192,691.05 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $109,520,348,837,209.31 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $118,896,387,043,189.36 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $128,135,382,059,800.69 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $133,354,443,521,594.70 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $136,323,712,624,584.72 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $141,451,411,960,132.88 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $144,751,868,770,764.13 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $149,468,438,538,205.97 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $155,555,440,199,335.53 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $161,973,629,568,106.31 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $171,155,523,255,813.97 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $181,011,212,624,584.75 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $187,463,662,790,697.69 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $190,056,063,122,923.59 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $194,030,315,614,617.97 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $198,541,320,598,006.63 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $204,011,627,906,976.75 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $210,646,802,325,581.41 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $216,174,210,963,455.16 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $220,765,157,807,308.97 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $225,515,988,372,093.03 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $230,723,629,568,106.28 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $237,861,295,681,063.16 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $242,235,257,475,083.03 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $247,420,058,139,534.88 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $255,768,272,425,249.13 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $261,980,897,009,966.75 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $268,125,000,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $278,608,232,973,421.91 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $293,581,115,033,222.63 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $299,095,732,973,421.94 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $301,473,089,700,996.75 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $312,274,719,684,385.38 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $320,228,592,192,691.06 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $324,745,421,511,627.94 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $332,259,156,976,744.19 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $338,228,529,900,332.25 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $339,391,112,956,810.63 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $342,384,821,428,571.44 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $347,194,009,551,495.00 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $353,589,244,186,046.44 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $365,390,946,843,853.75 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $379,354,049,003,322.31 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $415,677,917,358,804.00 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $439,206,748,338,870.38 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $449,034,686,461,794.00 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $461,634,551,495,016.56 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $469,729,235,880,398.75 | 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 |