According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $5,765,477.25 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 $970,000 in the year 1973 would cost $6,735,477.25 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 $970,000 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 | $970,000.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $1,103,507.51 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $1,196,598.36 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $1,233,536.54 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $1,307,081.63 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,434,791.67 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,588,507.51 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,724,499.66 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,858,504.10 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $1,934,202.53 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,977,269.47 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,051,642.76 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,099,513.32 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,167,923.50 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,256,210.72 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,349,301.57 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,482,477.80 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,625,426.91 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,719,014.69 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $2,756,615.44 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $2,814,258.88 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $2,879,687.50 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $2,959,030.05 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,055,268.10 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,135,438.87 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,202,026.98 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $3,270,934.08 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,346,466.87 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,449,993.17 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,513,434.08 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,588,635.59 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $3,709,719.95 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $3,799,829.23 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $3,888,944.67 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $4,040,995.82 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,258,165.83 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,338,151.08 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,372,632.79 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,529,302.03 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $4,644,666.77 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $4,710,179.87 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $4,819,160.76 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $4,905,741.87 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $4,922,604.23 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $4,966,025.65 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $5,035,779.18 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,128,537.09 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,299,711.61 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $5,502,235.55 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $6,029,085.02 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $6,370,352.42 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $6,512,899.03 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $6,688,554.77 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $6,735,477.25 | 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 |