According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home are 1,052.12% higher in 2026 versus 1950 (a $210.42 difference in value).
Between 1950 and 2026:Food at home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.27% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food at home costing $20 in the year 1950 would cost $230.42 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for food at home was lower.
In the year 1950: Pricing changed by 1.30%, which is below the average yearly change for food at home during the 1950-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1950 (1.09%), inflation for food at home was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food at home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1950. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $20.00 | 1.30% |
| 1951 | $22.24 | 11.22% |
| 1952 | $22.65 | 1.84% |
| 1953 | $22.23 | -1.89% |
| 1954 | $22.11 | -0.52% |
| 1955 | $21.66 | -2.05% |
| 1956 | $21.79 | 0.59% |
| 1957 | $22.49 | 3.23% |
| 1958 | $23.47 | 4.35% |
| 1959 | $22.91 | -2.40% |
| 1960 | $23.11 | 0.91% |
| 1961 | $23.31 | 0.85% |
| 1962 | $23.47 | 0.71% |
| 1963 | $23.77 | 1.25% |
| 1964 | $24.06 | 1.21% |
| 1965 | $24.60 | 2.26% |
| 1966 | $25.87 | 5.15% |
| 1967 | $25.77 | -0.35% |
| 1968 | $26.61 | 3.23% |
| 1969 | $27.91 | 4.90% |
| 1970 | $29.30 | 5.00% |
| 1971 | $30.01 | 2.42% |
| 1972 | $31.35 | 4.44% |
| 1973 | $36.45 | 16.29% |
| 1974 | $41.87 | 14.85% |
| 1975 | $45.32 | 8.25% |
| 1976 | $46.28 | 2.12% |
| 1977 | $49.03 | 5.93% |
| 1978 | $54.19 | 10.53% |
| 1979 | $60.05 | 10.81% |
| 1980 | $64.85 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $69.59 | 7.31% |
| 1982 | $71.99 | 3.45% |
| 1983 | $72.75 | 1.06% |
| 1984 | $75.44 | 3.70% |
| 1985 | $76.53 | 1.43% |
| 1986 | $78.72 | 2.86% |
| 1987 | $82.12 | 4.32% |
| 1988 | $85.54 | 4.17% |
| 1989 | $91.16 | 6.57% |
| 1990 | $97.11 | 6.53% |
| 1991 | $99.70 | 2.66% |
| 1992 | $100.42 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $102.80 | 2.36% |
| 1994 | $105.75 | 2.87% |
| 1995 | $109.17 | 3.24% |
| 1996 | $113.25 | 3.73% |
| 1997 | $116.07 | 2.49% |
| 1998 | $118.26 | 1.89% |
| 1999 | $120.52 | 1.91% |
| 2000 | $123.22 | 2.24% |
| 2001 | $127.24 | 3.27% |
| 2002 | $128.89 | 1.30% |
| 2003 | $131.66 | 2.15% |
| 2004 | $136.65 | 3.79% |
| 2005 | $139.28 | 1.93% |
| 2006 | $141.74 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $147.70 | 4.21% |
| 2008 | $157.16 | 6.40% |
| 2009 | $157.89 | 0.47% |
| 2010 | $158.41 | 0.33% |
| 2011 | $166.02 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | $170.11 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $171.65 | 0.90% |
| 2014 | $175.75 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $177.80 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | $175.46 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $175.11 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $175.90 | 0.45% |
| 2019 | $177.45 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | $183.66 | 3.50% |
| 2021 | $190.01 | 3.46% |
| 2022 | $211.71 | 11.42% |
| 2023 | $222.33 | 5.02% |
| 2024 | $224.98 | 1.19% |
| 2025 | $229.95 | 2.21% |
| 2026 | $230.42 | 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 |