According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 190% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $4,370,081,082,986.68 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.84% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $2,300,000,000,000 in the year 1988 would cost $6,670,081,082,986.68 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.70% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 4.13%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for food and beverages was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $2,300,000,000,000 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $2,300,000,000,000.00 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,430,381,442,572.09 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,570,330,677,571.74 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,661,954,452,513.57 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $2,698,766,128,463.65 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $2,755,199,887,188.89 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $2,819,255,446,661.50 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $2,896,932,947,895.37 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $2,991,151,378,410.77 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,069,639,709,511.39 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,134,830,430,797.43 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $3,202,291,475,710.36 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,276,239,159,557.22 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,377,592,892,899.95 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,439,702,460,692.38 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,513,325,812,592.54 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $3,631,869,139,110.20 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $3,720,087,428,611.72 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $3,807,332,722,273.14 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $3,956,192,977,508.28 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,168,805,541,845.87 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,247,112,247,056.34 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,280,870,337,728.27 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,434,251,780,300.36 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $4,547,195,515,758.30 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $4,611,333,779,877.32 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $4,718,027,638,722.41 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $4,802,791,792,991.61 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $4,819,300,289,078.47 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $4,861,810,477,332.02 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $4,930,100,190,368.75 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,020,911,513,784.11 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,188,493,830,642.32 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $5,386,767,679,616.44 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $5,902,560,882,746.95 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $6,236,666,572,657.41 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $6,376,221,744,341.82 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $6,555,137,841,077.35 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $6,670,081,082,986.68 | 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 |