According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 504.27% higher in 2025 versus 1974 (a $41,854.68 difference in value).
Between 1974 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.59% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $8,300 in the year 1974 would cost $50,154.68 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.74% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1974: Pricing changed by 13.76%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1974-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1974 (11.05%), inflation for food and beverages was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $8,300 beginning in 1974. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | $8,300.00 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $9,000.39 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $9,278.70 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $9,831.88 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $10,792.19 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $11,948.00 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $12,970.40 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $13,979.01 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $14,548.29 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $14,872.61 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $15,431.54 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $15,791.51 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $16,306.73 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $16,970.32 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $17,670.71 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $18,672.41 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $19,747.72 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $20,451.56 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $20,734.47 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $21,168.05 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $21,660.27 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $22,257.16 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $22,980.55 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $23,583.18 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $24,084.61 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $24,603.28 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $25,171.41 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $25,950.01 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $26,427.28 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $26,991.96 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $27,902.81 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $28,581.35 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $29,251.84 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $30,394.94 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $32,028.41 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $32,630.03 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $32,889.39 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $34,067.80 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $34,935.54 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $35,428.30 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $36,248.02 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $36,899.24 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $37,026.08 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $37,352.68 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $37,877.34 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $38,575.03 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $39,862.55 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $41,385.87 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $45,348.64 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $47,915.53 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $48,987.71 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $50,154.68 | 2.38%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 34.985 | 36.254 | 38.062 | 40.131 | 41.369 | 43.077 | 48.800 | 55.515 | 60.200 | 62.062 | 65.762 | 72.185 | 79.915 | 86.754 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.477 | 103.215 | 105.623 | 109.069 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.085 | 136.792 | 138.685 | 141.585 | 144.877 | 148.869 | 153.708 | 157.738 | 161.092 | 164.562 | 168.362 | 173.569 | 176.762 | 180.538 | 186.631 | 191.169 | 195.654 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.449 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 335.465 |