According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 295.07% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $5,163,802,708.67 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.03% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $1,750,000,000 in the year 1980 would cost $6,913,802,708.67 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.03% 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 $1,750,000,000 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 | $1,750,000,000.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,885,985,976.37 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $1,962,803,765.25 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $2,006,507,540.10 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,081,980,597.45 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,130,559,024.11 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,199,980,789.55 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,289,573,528.00 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,384,040,918.26 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,519,186,437.42 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,664,249,351.65 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,759,221,016.23 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $2,797,377,773.51 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $2,855,873,595.24 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $2,922,269,714.72 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $3,002,785,515.32 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,100,446,642.97 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,181,802,900.78 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,249,375,660.36 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $3,319,301,700.12 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,395,951,397.56 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,501,008,548.65 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,565,387,570.84 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,641,701,085.39 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $3,764,575,929.31 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $3,856,017,673.61 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $3,946,450,869.27 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $4,100,750,408.22 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,321,131,735.66 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,402,299,731.05 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,437,291,326.48 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,596,277,254.83 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $4,713,347,901.26 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $4,779,829,747.38 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $4,890,422,149.65 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $4,978,283,546.25 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $4,995,395,255.02 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $5,039,458,745.56 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $5,110,243,732.59 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,204,373,259.05 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,378,078,954.95 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $5,583,597,637.11 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $6,118,237,681.30 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $6,464,551,435.98 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $6,609,205,888.00 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $6,794,659,494.77 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $6,913,802,708.67 | 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 |