According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home are 397.88% higher in 2026 versus 1976 (a $79.58 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2026:Food at home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.26% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food at home costing $20 in the year 1976 would cost $99.58 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for food at home was lower.
In the year 1976: Pricing changed by 2.12%, which is below the average yearly change for food at home during the 1976-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1976 (5.74%), inflation for food at home was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food at home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $20.00 | 2.12% |
| 1977 | $21.19 | 5.93% |
| 1978 | $23.42 | 10.53% |
| 1979 | $25.95 | 10.81% |
| 1980 | $28.02 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $30.07 | 7.31% |
| 1982 | $31.11 | 3.45% |
| 1983 | $31.44 | 1.06% |
| 1984 | $32.60 | 3.70% |
| 1985 | $33.07 | 1.43% |
| 1986 | $34.02 | 2.86% |
| 1987 | $35.49 | 4.32% |
| 1988 | $36.97 | 4.17% |
| 1989 | $39.39 | 6.57% |
| 1990 | $41.97 | 6.53% |
| 1991 | $43.08 | 2.66% |
| 1992 | $43.40 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $44.42 | 2.36% |
| 1994 | $45.70 | 2.87% |
| 1995 | $47.18 | 3.24% |
| 1996 | $48.94 | 3.73% |
| 1997 | $50.16 | 2.49% |
| 1998 | $51.11 | 1.89% |
| 1999 | $52.08 | 1.91% |
| 2000 | $53.25 | 2.24% |
| 2001 | $54.99 | 3.27% |
| 2002 | $55.70 | 1.30% |
| 2003 | $56.90 | 2.15% |
| 2004 | $59.05 | 3.79% |
| 2005 | $60.19 | 1.93% |
| 2006 | $61.25 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $63.83 | 4.21% |
| 2008 | $67.91 | 6.40% |
| 2009 | $68.23 | 0.47% |
| 2010 | $68.46 | 0.33% |
| 2011 | $71.74 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | $73.51 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $74.18 | 0.90% |
| 2014 | $75.95 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $76.83 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | $75.82 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $75.67 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $76.01 | 0.45% |
| 2019 | $76.68 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | $79.37 | 3.50% |
| 2021 | $82.11 | 3.46% |
| 2022 | $91.49 | 11.42% |
| 2023 | $96.08 | 5.02% |
| 2024 | $97.22 | 1.19% |
| 2025 | $99.37 | 2.21% |
| 2026 | $99.58 | 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 |