According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 224.51% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $1,347,039,053,254.44 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 $600,000,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $1,947,039,053,254.44 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 $600,000,000,000 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 | $600,000,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $619,550,295,857.99 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $644,781,065,088.76 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $671,384,615,384.62 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $709,443,786,982.25 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $750,295,857,988.17 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $777,041,420,118.34 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $787,786,982,248.52 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $804,260,355,029.59 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $822,958,579,881.66 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $845,633,136,094.67 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $873,136,094,674.56 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $896,047,337,278.11 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $915,076,923,076.92 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $934,769,230,769.23 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $956,355,029,585.80 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $985,940,828,402.37 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $1,004,071,005,917.16 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $1,025,562,130,177.51 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $1,060,165,680,473.37 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $1,085,917,159,763.31 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $1,111,384,615,384.62 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $1,154,837,869,822.49 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,216,900,828,402.37 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,239,759,053,254.44 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,249,613,254,437.87 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,294,386,272,189.35 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,327,355,266,272.19 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,346,077,633,136.09 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,377,222,248,520.71 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,401,965,443,786.98 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,406,784,378,698.22 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,419,193,372,781.07 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,439,127,573,964.50 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,465,635,976,331.36 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,514,554,319,526.63 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,572,431,715,976.33 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $1,722,995,029,585.80 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $1,820,522,603,550.30 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $1,861,259,644,970.41 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,913,486,390,532.54 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $1,947,039,053,254.44 | 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 |