According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 469.88% higher in 2026 versus 1975 (a $33,742,389,761.90 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 $7,181,000,000 in the year 1975 would cost $40,923,389,761.90 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 $7,181,000,000 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 | $7,181,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $7,402,672,619.05 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $7,844,029,761.90 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $8,610,440,476.19 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $9,532,916,666.67 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $10,349,029,761.90 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $11,153,214,285.71 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $11,607,494,047.62 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $11,865,946,428.57 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $12,312,273,809.52 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $12,599,553,571.43 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $13,010,095,238.10 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $13,539,922,619.05 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $14,098,577,380.95 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $14,897,791,666.67 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $15,755,654,761.90 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $16,317,291,666.67 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $16,542,940,476.19 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $16,888,869,047.62 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $17,281,517,857.14 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $17,757,666,666.67 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $18,335,208,333.33 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $18,816,327,380.95 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $19,215,934,523.81 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $19,629,458,333.33 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $20,082,744,047.62 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $20,704,023,809.52 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $21,084,744,047.62 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $21,536,041,666.67 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $22,262,690,476.19 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $22,803,452,380.95 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $23,338,250,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $24,250,736,011.90 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $25,554,011,964.29 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $26,034,017,678.57 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $26,240,948,571.43 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $27,181,148,630.95 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $27,873,472,976.19 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $28,266,628,750.00 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $28,920,642,500.00 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $29,440,231,190.48 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $29,541,425,238.10 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $29,802,004,880.95 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $30,220,608,273.81 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $30,777,265,000.00 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $31,804,513,809.52 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $33,019,896,071.43 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $36,181,613,630.95 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $38,229,620,119.05 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $39,085,067,678.57 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $40,181,790,476.19 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $40,923,389,761.90 | 1.85%* |
* 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 | 343.070 |