According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 225.34% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $92,387,992,899.41 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.92% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $41,000,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $133,387,992,899.41 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.76% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 2.33%, which is below the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1985-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $41,000,000,000 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $41,000,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $42,335,936,883.63 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $44,060,039,447.73 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $45,877,948,717.95 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $48,478,658,777.12 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $51,270,216,962.52 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $53,097,830,374.75 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $53,832,110,453.65 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $54,957,790,927.02 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $56,235,502,958.58 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $57,784,930,966.47 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $59,664,299,802.76 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $61,229,901,380.67 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $62,530,256,410.26 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $63,875,897,435.90 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $65,350,927,021.70 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $67,372,623,274.16 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $68,611,518,737.67 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $70,080,078,895.46 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $72,444,654,832.35 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $74,204,339,250.49 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $75,944,615,384.62 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $78,913,921,104.54 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $83,154,889,940.83 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $84,716,868,639.05 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $85,390,239,053.25 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $88,449,728,599.61 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $90,702,609,861.93 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $91,981,971,597.63 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $94,110,186,982.25 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $95,800,971,992.11 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $96,130,265,877.71 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $96,978,213,806.71 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $98,340,384,220.91 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $100,151,791,715.98 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $103,494,545,167.65 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $107,449,500,591.72 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $117,737,993,688.36 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $124,402,377,909.27 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $127,186,075,739.64 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $130,754,903,353.06 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $133,387,992,899.41 | 2.01%* |
* 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 | 343.637 |