According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $150,972,290,983.61 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $25,400,000,000 in the year 1973 would cost $176,372,290,983.61 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.82% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 13.29%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for food and beverages was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $25,400,000,000 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $25,400,000,000.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $28,895,969,945.36 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $31,333,606,557.38 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $32,300,853,825.14 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $34,226,673,497.27 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $37,570,833,333.33 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $41,595,969,945.36 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $45,157,001,366.12 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $48,665,983,606.56 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $50,648,189,890.71 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $51,775,922,131.15 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $53,723,428,961.75 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $54,976,946,721.31 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $56,768,306,010.93 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $59,080,157,103.83 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $61,517,793,715.85 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $65,005,088,797.81 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $68,748,292,349.73 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $71,198,941,256.83 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $72,183,538,251.37 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $73,692,964,480.87 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $75,406,250,000.00 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $77,483,879,781.42 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $80,003,927,595.63 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $82,103,244,535.52 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $83,846,892,076.50 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $85,651,263,661.20 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $87,629,132,513.66 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $90,340,027,322.40 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $92,001,263,661.20 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $93,970,457,650.27 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $97,141,120,218.58 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $99,500,683,060.11 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $101,834,221,311.48 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $105,815,766,734.97 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $111,502,486,680.33 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $113,596,945,696.72 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $114,499,868,852.46 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $118,602,341,871.58 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $121,623,232,923.50 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $123,338,730,532.79 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $126,192,456,967.21 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $128,459,632,513.66 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $128,901,183,060.11 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $130,038,197,404.37 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $131,864,733,265.03 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $134,293,651,639.34 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $138,775,953,551.91 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $144,079,157,786.89 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $157,875,009,904.37 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $166,811,290,300.55 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $170,543,953,893.44 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $175,143,599,105.81 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $176,372,290,983.61 | 0.70%* |
* 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 | 336.496 | 338.857 |