According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 469.37% higher in 2026 versus 1975 (a $45,059,401,993.36 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 $9,600,000,000 in the year 1975 would cost $54,659,401,993.36 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 $9,600,000,000 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 | $9,600,000,000.00 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $9,896,345,514.95 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $10,486,378,737.54 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $11,510,963,455.15 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $12,744,186,046.51 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $13,835,215,946.84 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $14,910,299,003.32 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $15,517,607,973.42 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $15,863,122,923.59 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $16,459,800,664.45 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $16,843,853,820.60 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $17,392,691,029.90 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $18,100,996,677.74 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $18,847,840,531.56 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $19,916,279,069.77 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $21,063,122,923.59 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $21,813,953,488.37 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $22,115,614,617.94 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $22,578,073,089.70 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $23,102,990,033.22 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $23,739,534,883.72 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $24,511,627,906.98 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $25,154,817,275.75 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $25,689,036,544.85 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $26,241,860,465.12 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $26,847,840,531.56 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $27,678,405,315.61 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $28,187,375,415.28 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $28,790,697,674.42 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $29,762,126,245.85 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $30,485,049,833.89 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $31,200,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $32,419,867,109.63 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $34,162,166,112.96 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $34,803,867,109.63 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $35,080,504,983.39 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $36,337,421,926.91 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $37,262,963,455.15 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $37,788,558,139.53 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $38,662,883,720.93 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $39,357,501,661.13 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $39,492,784,053.16 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $39,841,142,857.14 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $40,400,757,475.08 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $41,144,930,232.56 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $42,518,219,269.10 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $44,143,016,611.30 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $48,369,794,019.93 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $51,107,694,352.16 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $52,251,308,970.10 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $53,717,475,083.06 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $54,659,401,993.36 | 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 |