According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $52,899.74 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 $8,900 in the year 1973 would cost $61,799.74 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 $8,900 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 | $8,900.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $10,124.97 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $10,979.10 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $11,318.02 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $11,992.81 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $13,164.58 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $14,574.97 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $15,822.73 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $17,052.25 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $17,746.81 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $18,141.96 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $18,824.35 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $19,263.58 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $19,891.26 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $20,701.31 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $21,555.45 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $22,777.37 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $24,088.97 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $24,947.66 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $25,292.66 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $25,821.55 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $26,421.87 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $27,149.86 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $28,032.87 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $28,768.46 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $29,379.42 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $30,011.66 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $30,704.70 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $31,654.58 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $32,236.66 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $32,926.66 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $34,037.64 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $34,864.41 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $35,682.07 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $37,077.18 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $39,069.77 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $39,803.65 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $40,120.03 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $41,557.51 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $42,616.01 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $43,217.11 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $44,217.04 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $45,011.45 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $45,166.16 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $45,564.57 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $46,204.57 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $47,055.65 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $48,626.22 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $50,484.43 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $55,318.41 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $58,449.63 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $59,757.53 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $61,369.21 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $61,799.74 | 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 |