According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 728.59% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $12,131,020,950.85 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 $1,665,000,000 in the year 1971 would cost $13,796,020,950.85 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 $1,665,000,000 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 | $1,665,000,000.00 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $1,733,760,072.52 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $1,964,190,169.22 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $2,234,534,649.48 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $2,423,037,872.68 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $2,497,835,414.99 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $2,646,759,669.62 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $2,905,364,625.30 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $3,216,629,734.09 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $3,492,005,439.16 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $3,763,356,164.38 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $3,916,640,813.86 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,003,848,710.72 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $4,154,450,040.29 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $4,251,384,971.80 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $4,389,911,361.80 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $4,568,687,550.36 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $4,757,190,773.57 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $5,026,864,423.85 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $5,316,327,558.42 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $5,505,837,026.59 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $5,581,976,228.85 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $5,698,700,644.64 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $5,831,189,564.87 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $5,991,853,344.08 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $6,186,729,452.05 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $6,349,070,306.20 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $6,483,907,131.35 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $6,623,439,766.32 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $6,776,389,000.81 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $6,986,023,368.25 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $7,114,487,308.62 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $7,266,765,713.13 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $7,511,954,069.30 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $7,694,419,822.72 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $7,874,873,086.22 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $8,182,767,274.38 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $8,622,523,156.73 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $8,784,488,346.09 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $8,854,311,684.13 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $9,171,557,242.14 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $9,405,163,718.78 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $9,537,823,700.64 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $9,758,503,283.64 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $9,933,824,697.82 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $9,967,969,943.59 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $10,055,895,628.53 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $10,197,142,234.09 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $10,384,971,273.17 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $10,731,589,121.68 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $11,141,687,610.80 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $12,208,525,292.10 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $12,899,570,729.25 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $13,188,218,805.40 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $13,558,278,807.41 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $13,796,020,950.85 | 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 |