According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 224.51% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $1,234,785,798,816.57 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $550,000,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $1,784,785,798,816.57 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% 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 $550,000,000,000 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 | $550,000,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $567,921,104,536.49 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $591,049,309,664.69 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $615,435,897,435.90 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $650,323,471,400.39 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $687,771,203,155.82 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $712,287,968,441.81 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $722,138,067,061.14 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $737,238,658,777.12 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $754,378,698,224.85 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $775,163,708,086.79 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $800,374,753,451.68 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $821,376,725,838.26 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $838,820,512,820.51 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $856,871,794,871.79 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $876,658,777,120.32 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $903,779,092,702.17 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $920,398,422,090.73 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $940,098,619,329.39 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $971,818,540,433.93 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $995,424,063,116.37 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $1,018,769,230,769.23 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $1,058,601,380,670.61 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,115,492,426,035.50 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,136,445,798,816.57 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,145,478,816,568.05 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,186,520,749,506.90 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,216,742,327,416.17 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,233,904,497,041.42 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,262,453,727,810.65 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,285,134,990,138.07 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,289,552,347,140.04 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,300,927,258,382.64 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,319,200,276,134.12 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,343,499,644,970.41 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,388,341,459,566.08 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,441,395,739,644.97 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $1,579,412,110,453.65 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $1,668,812,386,587.77 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $1,706,154,674,556.21 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,754,029,191,321.50 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $1,784,785,798,816.57 | 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 |