According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 462.89% higher in 2026 versus 1975 (a $37,956,601,328.90 difference in value).
Between 1975 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.45% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $8,200,000,000 in the year 1975 would cost $46,156,601,328.90 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.58% 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 $8,200,000,000 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 | $8,200,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $8,453,128,460.69 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $8,957,115,171.65 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $9,832,281,284.61 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $10,885,658,914.73 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $11,817,580,287.93 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $12,735,880,398.67 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $13,254,623,477.30 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $13,549,750,830.56 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $14,059,413,067.55 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $14,387,458,471.76 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $14,856,256,921.37 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $15,461,267,995.57 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $16,099,197,120.71 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $17,011,821,705.43 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $17,991,417,497.23 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $18,632,751,937.98 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $18,890,420,819.49 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $19,285,437,430.79 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $19,733,803,986.71 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $20,277,519,379.84 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $20,937,015,503.88 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $21,486,406,423.03 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $21,942,718,715.39 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $22,414,922,480.62 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $22,932,530,454.04 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $23,641,971,207.09 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $24,076,716,500.55 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $24,592,054,263.57 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $25,421,816,168.33 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $26,039,313,399.78 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $26,650,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $27,691,969,822.81 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $29,180,183,554.82 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $29,728,303,156.15 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $29,964,598,006.64 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $31,038,214,562.57 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $31,828,781,284.61 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $32,277,726,744.19 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $33,024,546,511.63 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $33,617,866,002.21 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $33,733,419,712.07 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $34,030,976,190.48 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $34,508,980,343.30 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $35,144,627,906.98 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $36,317,645,625.69 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $37,705,493,355.48 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $41,315,865,725.36 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $43,654,488,925.80 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $44,631,326,411.96 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $45,835,052,854.12 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $46,156,601,328.90 | 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 |