According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 752.40% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $4,618,049.99 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 $613,777 in the year 1970 would cost $5,231,826.99 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 $613,777 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 | $613,777.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $632,638.92 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $658,765.22 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $746,320.21 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $849,041.19 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $920,665.50 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $949,085.82 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $1,005,671.58 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,103,931.97 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,222,201.29 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,326,833.96 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,429,937.28 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $1,488,179.82 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,521,315.62 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $1,578,538.61 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $1,615,370.32 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $1,668,005.27 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $1,735,933.66 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $1,807,557.97 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $1,910,024.07 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,020,009.44 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,092,016.08 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $2,120,946.19 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $2,165,297.18 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $2,215,638.11 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $2,276,684.45 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $2,350,730.23 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $2,412,413.79 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $2,463,646.84 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $2,516,664.12 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $2,574,779.22 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $2,654,432.59 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $2,703,244.18 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $2,761,104.38 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $2,854,266.96 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $2,923,597.25 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $2,992,162.88 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $3,109,151.37 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $3,276,242.47 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $3,337,783.30 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $3,364,313.61 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $3,484,855.28 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $3,573,617.18 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $3,624,023.10 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $3,707,873.25 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $3,774,488.95 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $3,787,462.89 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $3,820,871.43 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $3,874,539.96 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $3,945,908.10 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $4,077,610.17 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $4,233,432.55 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $4,638,791.73 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $4,901,363.64 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $5,011,039.32 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $5,151,648.55 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $5,231,826.99 | 1.56%* |
* 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 | 342.096 |