According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 754.05% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $59,570,199,335.55 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 $7,900,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $67,470,199,335.55 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 $7,900,000,000 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 | $7,900,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $8,142,774,086.38 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $8,479,049,003.32 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $9,605,980,066.45 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $10,928,114,617.94 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $11,850,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $12,215,801,495.02 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $12,944,123,754.15 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $14,208,845,514.95 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $15,731,104,651.16 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $17,077,844,684.39 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $18,404,900,332.23 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $19,154,547,342.19 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $19,581,042,358.80 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $20,317,566,445.18 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $20,791,632,059.80 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $21,469,102,990.03 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $22,343,417,774.09 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $23,265,303,156.15 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $24,584,156,976.74 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $25,999,792,358.80 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $26,926,598,837.21 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $27,298,961,794.02 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $27,869,808,970.10 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $28,517,753,322.26 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $29,303,488,372.09 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $30,256,540,697.67 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $31,050,477,574.75 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $31,709,904,485.05 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $32,392,296,511.63 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $33,140,303,156.15 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $34,165,531,561.46 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $34,793,791,528.24 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $35,538,517,441.86 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $36,737,624,584.72 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $37,629,983,388.70 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $38,512,500,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $40,018,273,463.46 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $42,168,923,795.68 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $42,961,023,463.46 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $43,302,498,338.87 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $44,854,005,191.03 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $45,996,470,514.95 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $46,645,251,453.49 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $47,724,497,093.02 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $48,581,916,112.96 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $48,748,905,315.61 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $49,178,910,714.29 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $49,869,685,008.31 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $50,788,273,255.81 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $52,483,426,910.30 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $54,489,036,129.57 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $59,706,464,493.36 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $63,086,060,215.95 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $64,497,709,509.97 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $66,307,508,305.65 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $67,470,199,335.55 | 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 |