According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 695.73% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $25,046,221,706.33 difference in value).
Between 1972 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 $3,600,000,000 in the year 1972 would cost $28,646,221,706.33 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.88% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 4.13%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for food and beverages was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $3,600,000,000 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $3,600,000,000.00 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $4,078,467,788.74 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $4,639,814,277.42 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $5,031,224,608.24 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $5,186,535,113.17 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $5,495,763,203.71 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $6,032,733,604.18 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $6,679,048,171.79 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $7,250,841,555.43 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $7,814,277,423.10 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $8,132,559,489.26 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $8,313,639,001.74 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $8,626,349,390.60 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $8,827,626,233.31 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $9,115,264,074.29 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $9,486,477,074.87 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $9,877,887,405.69 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $10,437,840,975.04 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $11,038,885,664.54 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $11,432,385,374.35 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $11,590,481,717.93 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $11,832,849,680.79 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $12,107,951,247.82 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $12,441,555,426.58 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $12,846,198,491.00 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $13,183,284,968.08 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $13,463,261,752.76 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $13,752,988,972.72 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $14,070,574,579.22 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $14,505,861,868.83 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $14,772,605,919.91 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $15,088,798,607.08 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $15,597,910,621.01 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $15,976,784,677.89 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $16,351,479,976.78 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $16,990,795,124.78 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $17,903,909,460.24 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $18,240,215,902.50 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $18,385,197,910.62 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $19,043,930,354.03 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $19,528,993,615.79 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $19,804,450,377.25 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $20,262,672,083.58 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $20,626,711,549.62 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $20,697,611,143.35 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $20,880,181,079.51 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $21,173,467,208.36 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $21,563,477,655.25 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $22,283,199,071.39 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $23,134,732,443.41 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $25,349,926,871.74 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $26,784,821,822.40 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $27,384,174,114.92 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $28,152,571,096.92 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $28,646,221,706.33 | 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 |