According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $49,927.84 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 $8,400 in the year 1973 would cost $58,327.84 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 $8,400 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 | $8,400.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $9,556.15 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $10,362.30 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $10,682.17 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $11,319.06 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $12,425.00 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $13,756.15 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $14,933.81 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $16,094.26 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $16,749.80 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $17,122.75 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $17,766.80 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $18,181.35 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $18,773.77 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $19,538.32 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $20,344.47 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $21,497.75 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $22,735.66 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $23,546.11 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $23,871.72 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $24,370.90 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $24,937.50 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $25,624.59 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $26,457.99 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $27,152.25 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $27,728.89 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $28,325.61 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $28,979.71 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $29,876.23 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $30,425.61 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $31,076.84 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $32,125.41 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $32,905.74 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $33,677.46 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $34,994.19 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $36,874.84 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $37,567.49 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $37,866.10 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $39,222.82 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $40,221.86 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $40,789.19 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $41,732.94 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $42,482.71 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $42,628.74 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $43,004.76 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $43,608.81 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $44,412.07 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $45,894.41 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $47,648.23 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $52,210.63 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $55,165.94 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $56,400.36 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $57,921.51 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $58,327.84 | 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 |