According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 469.37% higher in 2026 versus 1975 (a $17,836,013,289,036.55 difference in value).
Between 1975 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.47% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $3,800,000,000,000 in the year 1975 would cost $21,636,013,289,036.55 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.60% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1975: Pricing changed by 8.44%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1975-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1975 (9.14%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $3,800,000,000,000 beginning in 1975. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | $3,800,000,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $3,917,303,433,001.11 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $4,150,858,250,276.86 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $4,556,423,034,330.01 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $5,044,573,643,410.85 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $5,476,439,645,625.69 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $5,901,993,355,481.73 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $6,142,386,489,479.51 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $6,279,152,823,920.27 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $6,515,337,763,012.18 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $6,667,358,803,986.71 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $6,884,606,866,002.22 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $7,164,977,851,605.76 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $7,460,603,543,743.08 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $7,883,527,131,782.95 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $8,337,486,157,253.60 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $8,634,689,922,480.62 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $8,754,097,452,934.66 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $8,937,153,931,339.98 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $9,144,933,554,817.28 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $9,396,899,224,806.20 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $9,702,519,379,844.96 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $9,957,115,171,650.06 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $10,168,576,965,669.99 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $10,387,403,100,775.19 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $10,627,270,210,409.75 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $10,956,035,437,430.79 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $11,157,502,768,549.28 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $11,396,317,829,457.36 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $11,780,841,638,981.18 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $12,066,998,892,580.29 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $12,350,000,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $12,832,864,064,230.35 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $13,522,524,086,378.74 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $13,776,530,730,897.01 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $13,886,033,222,591.36 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $14,383,562,846,068.66 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $14,749,923,034,330.02 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $14,957,970,930,232.56 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $15,304,058,139,534.89 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $15,579,011,074,197.12 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $15,632,560,354,374.31 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $15,770,452,380,952.38 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $15,991,966,500,553.71 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $16,286,534,883,720.93 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $16,830,128,460,686.60 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $17,473,277,408,637.88 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $19,146,376,799,557.03 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $20,230,129,014,396.45 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $20,682,809,800,664.45 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $21,263,167,220,376.52 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $21,636,013,289,036.55 | 1.75%* |
* 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 | 342.760 |