According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 249.82% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $49.96 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.96% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $69.96 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 7.78%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $20.81 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $21.28 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $22.08 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $22.59 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $23.33 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $24.28 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $25.28 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $26.71 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $28.25 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $29.26 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $29.67 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $30.29 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $30.99 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $31.84 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $32.88 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $33.74 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $34.46 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $35.20 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $36.01 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $37.13 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $37.81 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $38.62 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $39.92 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $40.89 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $41.85 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $43.49 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $45.82 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $46.68 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $47.06 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $48.74 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $49.98 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $50.69 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $51.86 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $52.79 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $52.97 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $53.44 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $54.19 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $55.19 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $57.03 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $59.21 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $64.88 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $68.55 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $69.96 | 2.06%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 34.985 | 36.254 | 38.062 | 40.131 | 41.369 | 43.077 | 48.800 | 55.515 | 60.200 | 62.062 | 65.762 | 72.185 | 79.915 | 86.754 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.477 | 103.215 | 105.623 | 109.069 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.085 | 136.792 | 138.685 | 141.585 | 144.877 | 148.869 | 153.708 | 157.738 | 161.092 | 164.562 | 168.362 | 173.569 | 176.762 | 180.538 | 186.631 | 191.169 | 195.654 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.449 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.084 |