According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 297.47% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $6,365,768,382.34 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.05% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $2,140,000,000 in the year 1980 would cost $8,505,768,382.34 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.07% 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 $2,140,000,000 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 | $2,140,000,000.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $2,306,291,422.53 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $2,400,228,604.36 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $2,453,672,077.61 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,545,964,844.88 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,605,369,320.91 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,690,262,222.65 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,799,821,342.81 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,915,341,465.76 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $3,080,605,129.19 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $3,257,996,350.01 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $3,374,133,128.42 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $3,420,793,391.61 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $3,492,325,425.03 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $3,573,518,394.01 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $3,671,977,715.88 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,791,403,323.41 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,890,890,404.38 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,973,522,236.10 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $4,059,031,793.30 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $4,152,763,423.30 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $4,281,233,310.92 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $4,359,959,658.05 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $4,453,280,184.42 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $4,603,538,564.98 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $4,715,358,755.16 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $4,825,945,634.43 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $5,014,631,927.77 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $5,284,126,808.18 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $5,383,383,671.12 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $5,426,173,393.53 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $5,620,590,471.62 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $5,763,751,147.82 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $5,845,048,948.23 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $5,980,287,657.29 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $6,087,729,593.70 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $6,108,654,768.99 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $6,162,538,123.14 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $6,249,098,050.14 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $6,364,205,013.93 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $6,576,622,264.91 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $6,827,942,253.39 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $7,481,730,650.27 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $7,905,222,898.86 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $8,082,114,628.76 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $8,308,897,896.46 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $8,505,768,382.34 | 2.37%* |
* 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 | 344.835 |