According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $249,639.22 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 $42,000 in the year 1973 would cost $291,639.22 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 $42,000 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 | $42,000.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $47,780.74 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $51,811.48 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $53,410.86 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $56,595.29 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $62,125.00 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $68,780.74 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $74,669.06 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $80,471.31 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $83,748.98 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $85,613.73 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $88,834.02 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $90,906.76 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $93,868.85 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $97,691.60 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $101,722.34 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $107,488.73 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $113,678.28 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $117,730.53 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $119,358.61 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $121,854.51 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $124,687.50 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $128,122.95 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $132,289.96 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $135,761.27 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $138,644.47 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $141,628.07 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $144,898.57 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $149,381.15 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $152,128.07 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $155,384.22 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $160,627.05 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $164,528.69 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $168,387.30 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $174,970.95 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $184,374.19 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $187,837.47 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $189,330.49 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $196,114.11 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $201,109.28 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $203,945.93 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $208,664.69 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $212,413.57 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $213,143.69 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $215,023.79 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $218,044.05 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $222,060.37 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $229,472.05 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $238,241.13 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $261,053.17 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $275,829.69 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $282,001.81 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $289,607.53 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $291,639.22 | 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 |