According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 294.31% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $11,772,363,845.93 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 $4,000,000,000 in the year 1980 would cost $15,772,363,845.93 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 $4,000,000,000 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 | $4,000,000,000.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $4,310,825,088.85 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $4,486,408,606.28 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,586,302,948.80 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $4,758,812,794.16 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $4,869,849,197.96 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $5,028,527,518.97 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $5,233,310,921.14 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $5,449,236,384.59 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $5,758,140,428.39 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $6,089,712,803.77 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $6,306,790,894.25 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $6,394,006,339.45 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $6,527,711,074.82 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $6,679,473,633.66 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $6,863,509,749.30 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $7,086,735,183.94 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $7,272,692,344.64 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $7,427,144,366.54 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $7,586,975,314.57 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $7,762,174,622.99 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $8,002,305,254.06 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $8,149,457,304.77 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $8,323,888,195.18 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $8,604,744,981.27 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $8,813,754,682.55 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $9,020,459,129.77 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $9,373,143,790.22 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $9,876,872,538.66 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $10,062,399,385.27 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $10,142,380,174.82 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $10,505,776,582.46 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $10,773,366,631.45 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $10,925,325,136.87 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $11,178,107,770.63 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $11,378,933,820.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $11,418,046,297.19 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $11,518,762,846.99 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $11,680,557,103.06 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $11,895,710,306.41 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $12,292,751,897.03 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $12,762,508,884.83 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $13,984,543,271.54 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $14,776,117,567.96 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $15,106,756,315.44 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $15,530,650,273.75 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $15,772,363,845.93 | 1.56%* |
* 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 | 342.096 |