According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 378.13% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $13,612.73 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026, Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.31% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $3,600 in the year 1978 would cost $17,212.73 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 9.77%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for food and beverages was higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $3,600 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $3,600.00 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $3,985.68 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $4,326.90 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $4,663.13 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $4,853.06 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,961.12 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $5,147.73 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $5,267.84 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $5,439.48 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $5,661.00 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $5,894.57 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $6,228.72 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $6,587.39 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $6,822.21 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $6,916.56 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $7,061.19 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $7,225.35 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $7,424.43 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $7,665.90 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $7,867.05 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $8,034.13 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $8,207.02 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $8,396.54 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $8,656.29 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $8,815.47 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $9,004.16 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $9,307.97 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $9,534.06 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $9,757.65 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $10,139.16 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $10,684.06 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $10,884.75 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $10,971.26 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $11,364.36 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $11,653.82 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $11,818.19 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $12,091.64 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $12,308.87 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $12,351.18 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $12,460.13 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $12,635.15 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $12,867.88 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $13,297.37 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $13,805.52 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $15,127.43 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $15,983.69 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $16,341.35 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $16,799.89 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $17,212.73 | 2.46%* |
* 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 | 345.131 |