According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 516.20% higher in 2026 versus 1974 (a $4,351,600,924.65 difference in value).
Between 1974 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.56% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $843,000,000 in the year 1974 would cost $5,194,600,924.65 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% 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 1974-2026 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 $843,000,000 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 | $843,000,000.00 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $914,114,680.28 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $942,332,782.95 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $998,515,911.14 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,096,077,154.01 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,213,504,953.47 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,317,393,125.19 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,419,762,833.98 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $1,477,590,963.67 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,510,490,993.70 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $1,567,306,814.77 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $1,603,876,463.52 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $1,656,136,895.83 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $1,723,581,957.37 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $1,794,696,637.65 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $1,896,433,653.56 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,005,636,445.51 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,077,130,741.52 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $2,105,854,998.50 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $2,149,890,423.30 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $2,199,873,161.21 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $2,260,485,139.60 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $2,334,004,052.84 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $2,395,248,724.11 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $2,446,117,232.06 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $2,498,757,280.10 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $2,556,458,871.21 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $2,635,545,481.84 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $2,684,009,756.83 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $2,741,458,270.79 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $2,833,957,970.58 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $2,902,794,956.47 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $2,970,872,710.90 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $3,087,028,797.66 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $3,252,930,995.20 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $3,314,033,943.26 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $3,340,375,478.84 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $3,460,059,461.12 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $3,548,189,783.85 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $3,598,237,056.44 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $3,681,490,582.41 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $3,747,632,296.61 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $3,760,513,923.75 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $3,793,684,746.32 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $3,846,971,406.48 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $3,917,831,744.22 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $4,048,596,709.70 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $4,203,310,366.26 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $4,605,785,291.20 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $4,866,488,925.25 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $4,975,384,228.46 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $5,114,992,975.08 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $5,194,600,924.65 | 1.56%* |
* 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 | 336.853 | 342.096 |