According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $6,402,579,851.93 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 $870,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $7,272,579,851.93 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 $870,000,000 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 | $870,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $896,848,763.66 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $933,870,040.25 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $1,057,941,345.60 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $1,203,525,014.38 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $1,305,083,381.25 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $1,345,439,907.99 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $1,425,652,673.95 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,564,899,367.45 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,732,495,687.18 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,880,747,556.07 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $2,026,998,274.87 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $2,109,545,715.93 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $2,156,572,742.96 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,237,619,321.45 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,289,815,986.20 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,364,525,589.42 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,460,747,556.07 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,562,305,922.94 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,707,556,066.71 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,863,479,010.93 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,965,537,665.32 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $3,006,561,242.09 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $3,069,430,707.30 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $3,140,805,060.38 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $3,227,354,801.61 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,332,248,418.63 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,419,631,972.40 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,492,340,425.53 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $3,567,550,316.27 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,649,930,994.82 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,762,829,212.19 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,832,035,652.67 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,913,916,043.70 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $4,045,991,949.40 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $4,144,381,828.64 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $4,241,604,370.33 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $4,407,357,964.35 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,644,215,756.18 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,731,452,558.94 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,769,060,839.56 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,939,934,042.55 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $5,065,758,021.85 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $5,137,210,753.31 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $5,256,072,397.93 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $5,350,501,667.63 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $5,368,893,904.54 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $5,416,251,121.33 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $5,492,328,177.11 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,593,496,319.72 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,780,190,281.77 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $6,001,075,560.67 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $6,575,689,131.68 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $6,947,896,377.23 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $7,103,365,727.43 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $7,272,579,851.93 | 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 |