According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home are 1,067.12% higher in 2026 versus 1949 (a $213.42 difference in value).
Between 1949 and 2026:Food at home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.24% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food at home costing $20 in the year 1949 would cost $233.42 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation for food at home was lower.
In the year 1949: Pricing changed by -3.93%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for food at home during the 1949-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1949 (-0.97%), inflation for food at home was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food at home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1949. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | $20.00 | -3.93% |
| 1950 | $20.26 | 1.30% |
| 1951 | $22.53 | 11.22% |
| 1952 | $22.95 | 1.84% |
| 1953 | $22.52 | -1.89% |
| 1954 | $22.40 | -0.52% |
| 1955 | $21.94 | -2.05% |
| 1956 | $22.07 | 0.59% |
| 1957 | $22.78 | 3.23% |
| 1958 | $23.77 | 4.35% |
| 1959 | $23.20 | -2.40% |
| 1960 | $23.41 | 0.91% |
| 1961 | $23.61 | 0.85% |
| 1962 | $23.78 | 0.71% |
| 1963 | $24.08 | 1.25% |
| 1964 | $24.37 | 1.21% |
| 1965 | $24.92 | 2.26% |
| 1966 | $26.20 | 5.15% |
| 1967 | $26.11 | -0.35% |
| 1968 | $26.95 | 3.23% |
| 1969 | $28.27 | 4.90% |
| 1970 | $29.68 | 5.00% |
| 1971 | $30.40 | 2.42% |
| 1972 | $31.75 | 4.44% |
| 1973 | $36.93 | 16.29% |
| 1974 | $42.41 | 14.85% |
| 1975 | $45.91 | 8.25% |
| 1976 | $46.88 | 2.12% |
| 1977 | $49.67 | 5.93% |
| 1978 | $54.89 | 10.53% |
| 1979 | $60.83 | 10.81% |
| 1980 | $65.69 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $70.50 | 7.31% |
| 1982 | $72.92 | 3.45% |
| 1983 | $73.70 | 1.06% |
| 1984 | $76.43 | 3.70% |
| 1985 | $77.52 | 1.43% |
| 1986 | $79.74 | 2.86% |
| 1987 | $83.18 | 4.32% |
| 1988 | $86.65 | 4.17% |
| 1989 | $92.35 | 6.57% |
| 1990 | $98.38 | 6.53% |
| 1991 | $101.00 | 2.66% |
| 1992 | $101.73 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $104.13 | 2.36% |
| 1994 | $107.13 | 2.87% |
| 1995 | $110.59 | 3.24% |
| 1996 | $114.72 | 3.73% |
| 1997 | $117.58 | 2.49% |
| 1998 | $119.80 | 1.89% |
| 1999 | $122.09 | 1.91% |
| 2000 | $124.82 | 2.24% |
| 2001 | $128.90 | 3.27% |
| 2002 | $130.57 | 1.30% |
| 2003 | $133.38 | 2.15% |
| 2004 | $138.43 | 3.79% |
| 2005 | $141.10 | 1.93% |
| 2006 | $143.58 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $149.62 | 4.21% |
| 2008 | $159.20 | 6.40% |
| 2009 | $159.94 | 0.47% |
| 2010 | $160.47 | 0.33% |
| 2011 | $168.18 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | $172.32 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $173.88 | 0.90% |
| 2014 | $178.03 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $180.11 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | $177.74 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $177.39 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $178.19 | 0.45% |
| 2019 | $179.76 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | $186.05 | 3.50% |
| 2021 | $192.48 | 3.46% |
| 2022 | $214.46 | 11.42% |
| 2023 | $225.23 | 5.02% |
| 2024 | $227.91 | 1.19% |
| 2025 | $232.94 | 2.21% |
| 2026 | $233.42 | 0.21%* |
* 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 at home:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 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 | 25.842 | 28.000 | 26.900 | 27.250 | 30.308 | 30.867 | 30.283 | 30.125 | 29.508 | 29.683 | 30.642 | 31.975 | 31.208 | 31.492 | 31.758 | 31.983 | 32.383 | 32.775 | 33.517 | 35.242 | 35.117 | 36.250 | 38.025 | 39.925 | 40.892 | 42.708 | 49.667 | 57.042 | 61.750 | 63.058 | 66.800 | 73.833 | 81.817 | 88.358 | 94.817 | 98.083 | 99.125 | 102.792 | 104.267 | 107.250 | 111.883 | 116.550 | 124.208 | 132.317 | 135.842 | 136.825 | 140.058 | 144.083 | 148.750 | 154.300 | 158.142 | 161.133 | 164.208 | 167.883 | 173.367 | 175.617 | 179.392 | 186.183 | 189.775 | 193.117 | 201.245 | 214.125 | 215.124 | 215.835 | 226.201 | 231.774 | 233.869 | 239.456 | 242.250 | 239.065 | 238.589 | 239.661 | 241.774 | 250.233 | 258.892 | 288.451 | 302.929 | 306.536 | 313.300 | 313.954 |