According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 710.90% higher in 2025 versus 1971 (a $21,327,111.15 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 $3,000,000 in the year 1971 would cost $24,327,111.15 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 $3,000,000 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 | $3,000,000.00 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $3,123,837.86 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $3,538,862.03 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $4,025,846.04 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $4,365,563.41 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $4,500,557.83 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $4,768,873.19 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $5,234,659.72 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $5,795,277.05 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $6,291,186.31 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $6,780,401.64 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $7,056,526.59 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $7,213,834.14 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $7,484,938.64 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $7,659,538.86 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $7,909,445.89 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $8,231,312.76 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $8,571,030.12 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $9,056,898.48 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $9,578,467.83 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $9,919,858.68 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $10,057,084.42 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $10,267,385.65 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $10,506,136.11 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $10,795,648.94 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $11,146,522.87 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $11,438,824.84 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $11,682,037.93 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $11,933,618.45 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $12,209,185.57 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $12,586,835.25 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $12,818,333.95 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $13,092,227.59 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $13,534,027.52 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $13,863,146.15 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $14,188,359.99 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $14,742,813.31 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $15,535,113.43 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $15,826,924.51 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $15,952,725.92 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $16,524,304.57 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $16,945,191.52 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $17,184,204.17 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $17,581,801.79 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $17,897,672.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $17,959,194.87 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $18,117,606.92 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $18,372,088.14 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $18,710,500.19 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $19,335,000.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $20,073,871.33 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $21,995,979.92 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $23,241,030.12 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $23,761,082.19 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $24,327,111.15 | 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 |