According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 295.07% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $27,146,848,525.60 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 $9,200,000,000 in the year 1980 would cost $36,346,848,525.60 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 $9,200,000,000 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 | $9,200,000,000.00 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $9,914,897,704.35 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $10,318,739,794.45 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $10,548,496,782.25 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $10,945,269,426.57 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $11,200,653,155.32 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $11,565,613,293.63 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $12,036,615,118.62 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $12,533,243,684.56 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $13,243,722,985.30 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $14,006,339,448.66 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $14,505,619,056.77 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $14,706,214,580.73 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $15,013,735,472.10 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $15,362,789,357.41 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $15,786,072,423.40 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $16,299,490,923.06 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $16,727,192,392.66 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $17,082,432,043.03 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $17,450,043,223.51 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $17,853,001,632.89 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $18,405,302,084.33 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $18,743,751,800.98 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $19,144,942,848.91 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $19,790,913,456.92 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $20,271,635,769.86 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $20,747,055,998.46 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $21,558,230,717.51 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $22,716,806,838.92 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $23,143,518,586.11 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $23,327,474,402.07 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $24,163,286,139.66 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $24,778,743,252.33 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $25,128,247,814.81 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $25,709,647,872.44 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $26,171,547,786.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $26,261,506,483.53 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $26,493,154,548.07 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $26,865,281,337.05 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $27,360,133,704.74 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $28,273,329,363.17 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $29,353,770,435.12 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $32,164,449,524.54 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $33,985,070,406.30 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $34,745,539,525.50 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $35,720,495,629.62 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $36,346,848,525.60 | 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 |