According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 224.51% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $18,185,027,218.93 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 $8,100,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $26,285,027,218.93 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 $8,100,000,000 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 | $8,100,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $8,363,928,994.08 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $8,704,544,378.70 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $9,063,692,307.69 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $9,577,491,124.26 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $10,128,994,082.84 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $10,490,059,171.60 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $10,635,124,260.36 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $10,857,514,792.90 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $11,109,940,828.40 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $11,416,047,337.28 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $11,787,337,278.11 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $12,096,639,053.25 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $12,353,538,461.54 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $12,619,384,615.38 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $12,910,792,899.41 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $13,310,201,183.43 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $13,554,958,579.88 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $13,845,088,757.40 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $14,312,236,686.39 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $14,659,881,656.80 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $15,003,692,307.69 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $15,590,311,242.60 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $16,428,161,183.43 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $16,736,747,218.93 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $16,869,778,934.91 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $17,474,214,674.56 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $17,919,296,094.67 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $18,172,048,047.34 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $18,592,500,355.03 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $18,926,533,491.12 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $18,991,589,112.43 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $19,159,110,532.54 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $19,428,222,248.52 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $19,786,085,680.47 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $20,446,483,313.61 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $21,227,828,165.68 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $23,260,432,899.41 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $24,577,055,147.93 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $25,127,005,207.10 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $25,832,066,272.19 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $26,285,027,218.93 | 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 |