According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 710.90% higher in 2025 versus 1971 (a $142,180.74 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.95% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $20,000 in the year 1971 would cost $162,180.74 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 3.09%, which is below the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1971-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $20,000 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 | $20,000.00 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $20,825.59 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $23,592.41 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $26,838.97 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $29,103.76 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $30,003.72 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $31,792.49 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $34,897.73 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $38,635.18 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $41,941.24 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $45,202.68 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $47,043.51 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $48,092.23 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $49,899.59 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $51,063.59 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $52,729.64 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $54,875.42 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $57,140.20 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $60,379.32 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $63,856.45 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $66,132.39 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $67,047.23 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $68,449.24 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $70,040.91 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $71,970.99 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $74,310.15 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $76,258.83 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $77,880.25 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $79,557.46 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $81,394.57 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $83,912.24 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $85,455.56 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $87,281.52 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $90,226.85 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $92,420.97 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $94,589.07 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $98,285.42 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $103,567.42 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $105,512.83 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $106,351.51 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $110,162.03 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $112,967.94 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $114,561.36 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $117,212.01 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $119,317.81 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $119,727.97 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $120,784.05 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $122,480.59 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $124,736.67 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $128,900.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $133,825.81 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $146,639.87 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $154,940.20 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $158,407.21 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $162,180.74 | 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 |