According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 728.59% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $185,061,821,112.01 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 $25,400,000,000 in the year 1971 would cost $210,461,821,112.01 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 $25,400,000,000 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 | $25,400,000,000.00 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $26,448,952,457.70 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $29,964,222,401.29 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $34,088,396,454.47 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $36,964,061,240.93 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $38,105,116,841.26 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $40,376,994,359.39 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $44,322,078,968.57 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $49,070,507,655.12 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $53,271,434,327.16 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $57,410,958,904.11 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $59,749,355,358.58 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $61,079,734,085.41 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $63,377,195,809.83 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $64,855,962,933.12 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $66,969,218,372.28 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $69,696,494,762.29 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $72,572,159,548.75 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $76,686,099,919.42 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $81,101,933,924.25 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $83,992,949,234.49 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $85,154,472,199.84 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $86,935,132,957.29 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $88,956,285,253.83 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $91,407,252,215.95 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $94,380,136,986.30 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $96,856,688,154.71 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $98,913,658,340.05 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $101,042,264,302.98 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $103,375,543,916.20 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $106,573,569,701.85 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $108,533,319,903.30 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $110,856,365,834.00 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $114,596,776,792.91 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $117,380,338,436.74 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $120,133,199,033.04 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $124,830,203,464.95 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $131,538,791,700.24 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $134,009,612,006.45 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $135,074,784,850.93 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $139,914,446,817.08 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $143,478,173,247.38 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $145,501,935,132.96 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $148,868,458,501.21 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $151,543,031,426.27 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $152,063,925,866.24 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $153,405,254,633.36 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $155,560,007,655.12 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $158,425,387,590.65 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $163,713,131,345.69 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $169,969,288,477.03 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $186,244,169,621.27 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $196,786,244,157.94 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $201,189,644,238.52 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $206,835,004,029.01 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $210,461,821,112.01 | 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 |