According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 756.24% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $45,374,264,950,166,112 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $6,000,000,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $51,374,264,950,166,112 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.89% 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 $6,000,000,000,000,000 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 | $6,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $6,184,385,382,059,802.00 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $6,439,784,053,156,145.00 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $7,295,681,063,122,924.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $8,299,833,887,043,191.00 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $9,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $9,277,823,920,265,780.00 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $9,830,980,066,445,184.00 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $10,791,528,239,202,658.00 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $11,947,674,418,604,652.00 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $12,970,514,950,166,114.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $13,978,405,315,614,618.00 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $14,547,757,475,083,056.00 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $14,871,677,740,863,788.00 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $15,431,063,122,923,586.00 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $15,791,112,956,810,632.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $16,305,647,840,531,560.00 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $16,969,684,385,382,060.00 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $17,669,850,498,338,870.00 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $18,671,511,627,906,976.00 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $19,746,677,740,863,788.00 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $20,450,581,395,348,836.00 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $20,733,388,704,318,936.00 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $21,166,943,521,594,684.00 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $21,659,053,156,146,180.00 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $22,255,813,953,488,372.00 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $22,979,651,162,790,696.00 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $23,582,641,196,013,292.00 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $24,083,471,760,797,344.00 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $24,601,744,186,046,512.00 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $25,169,850,498,338,868.00 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $25,948,504,983,388,708.00 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $26,425,664,451,827,248.00 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $26,991,279,069,767,444.00 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $27,901,993,355,481,728.00 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $28,579,734,219,269,104.00 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $29,250,000,000,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $30,393,625,415,282,392.00 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $32,027,030,730,897,012.00 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $32,628,625,415,282,392.00 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $32,887,973,421,926,912.00 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $34,066,333,056,478,404.00 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $34,934,028,239,202,664.00 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $35,426,773,255,813,948.00 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $36,246,453,488,372,104.00 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $36,897,657,807,308,968.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $37,024,485,049,833,888.00 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $37,351,071,428,571,424.00 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $37,875,710,132,890,368.00 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $38,573,372,093,023,256.00 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $39,860,830,564,784,056.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $41,384,078,073,089,704.00 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $45,346,681,893,687,712.00 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $47,913,463,455,149,496.00 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $48,985,602,159,468,440.00 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $50,360,132,890,365,440.00 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $51,374,264,950,166,112.00 | 2.01%* |
* 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 | 343.637 |