According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 290.58% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $406,806,032,081.45 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.01% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $140,000,000,000 in the year 1980 would cost $546,806,032,081.45 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.02% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 8.56%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1980-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for food and beverages was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $140,000,000,000 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $140,000,000,000.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $150,878,878,109.69 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $157,024,301,219.86 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $160,520,603,208.15 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $166,558,447,795.60 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $170,444,721,928.73 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $175,998,463,163.96 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $183,165,882,239.94 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $190,723,273,460.76 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $201,534,914,993.76 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $213,139,948,131.78 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $220,737,681,298.63 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $223,790,221,880.70 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $228,469,887,618.86 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $233,781,577,177.98 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $240,222,841,225.63 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $248,035,731,437.90 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $254,544,232,062.24 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $259,950,052,828.74 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $265,544,136,009.99 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $271,676,111,804.82 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $280,080,683,892.04 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $285,231,005,667.08 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $291,336,086,831.24 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $301,166,074,344.44 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $308,481,413,889.16 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $315,716,069,541.83 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $328,060,032,657.77 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $345,690,538,853.14 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $352,183,978,484.30 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $354,983,306,118.53 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $367,702,180,386.13 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $377,067,832,100.66 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $382,386,379,790.61 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $391,233,771,971.95 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $398,262,683,699.93 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $399,631,620,401.50 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $403,156,699,644.61 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $408,819,498,607.24 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $416,349,860,724.23 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $430,246,316,396.12 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $446,687,810,969.17 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $489,459,014,503.89 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $517,164,114,878.49 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $528,736,471,040.25 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $542,996,725,491.39 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $546,806,032,081.45 | 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 |