According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 369.44% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $31,771.79 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.27% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $8,600 in the year 1978 would cost $40,371.79 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% 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.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $8,600 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 | $8,600.00 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $9,521.36 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $10,336.48 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $11,139.69 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $11,593.42 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $11,851.56 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $12,297.34 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $12,584.28 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $12,994.32 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $13,523.50 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $14,081.48 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $14,879.73 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $15,736.55 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $16,297.51 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $16,522.88 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $16,868.39 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $17,260.56 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $17,736.13 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $18,312.98 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $18,793.51 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $19,192.63 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $19,605.66 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $20,058.39 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $20,678.92 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $21,059.18 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $21,509.93 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $22,235.70 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $22,775.80 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $23,309.95 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $24,221.33 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $25,523.03 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $26,002.45 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $26,209.13 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $27,148.19 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $27,839.68 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $28,232.35 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $28,885.58 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $29,404.53 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $29,505.61 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $29,765.87 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $30,183.96 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $30,739.95 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $31,765.95 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $32,979.86 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $36,137.74 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $38,183.27 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $39,037.68 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $40,090.54 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $40,371.79 | 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 |