According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 728.59% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $9,531,055.37 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.92% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $1,308,151 in the year 1971 would cost $10,839,206.37 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 1971: Pricing changed by 3.07%, which is below the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $1,308,151 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $1,308,151.00 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $1,362,174.16 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $1,543,217.62 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $1,755,620.86 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $1,903,723.37 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $1,962,490.03 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $2,079,496.28 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $2,282,676.06 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $2,527,229.67 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $2,743,585.83 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $2,956,779.66 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $3,077,211.77 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $3,145,728.95 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $3,264,052.84 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $3,340,212.31 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $3,449,049.21 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $3,589,509.42 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $3,737,611.93 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $3,949,488.12 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $4,176,912.44 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $4,325,805.53 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $4,385,626.30 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $4,477,333.90 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $4,581,427.30 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $4,707,657.02 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $4,860,766.56 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $4,988,313.92 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $5,094,252.01 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $5,203,879.49 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $5,324,048.08 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $5,488,752.83 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $5,589,683.90 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $5,709,325.43 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $5,901,964.10 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $6,045,323.11 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $6,187,100.96 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $6,429,006.12 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $6,774,511.89 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $6,901,764.09 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $6,956,622.63 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $7,205,874.94 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $7,389,414.01 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $7,493,641.81 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $7,667,024.52 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $7,804,770.40 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $7,831,597.51 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $7,900,678.63 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $8,011,652.74 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $8,159,225.56 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $8,431,554.98 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $8,753,759.63 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $9,591,948.69 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $10,134,886.70 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $10,361,670.64 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $10,652,418.01 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $10,839,206.37 | 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 |