According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food at home are 369.99% higher in 2026 versus 1977 (a $74 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2026:Food at home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.21% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food at home costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $94 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 1977: Pricing changed by 5.93%, which is above the average yearly change for food at home during the 1977-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1977 (6.50%), inflation for food at home was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food at home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20.00 | 5.93% |
| 1978 | $22.11 | 10.53% |
| 1979 | $24.50 | 10.81% |
| 1980 | $26.45 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $28.39 | 7.31% |
| 1982 | $29.37 | 3.45% |
| 1983 | $29.68 | 1.06% |
| 1984 | $30.78 | 3.70% |
| 1985 | $31.22 | 1.43% |
| 1986 | $32.11 | 2.86% |
| 1987 | $33.50 | 4.32% |
| 1988 | $34.90 | 4.17% |
| 1989 | $37.19 | 6.57% |
| 1990 | $39.62 | 6.53% |
| 1991 | $40.67 | 2.66% |
| 1992 | $40.97 | 0.72% |
| 1993 | $41.93 | 2.36% |
| 1994 | $43.14 | 2.87% |
| 1995 | $44.54 | 3.24% |
| 1996 | $46.20 | 3.73% |
| 1997 | $47.35 | 2.49% |
| 1998 | $48.24 | 1.89% |
| 1999 | $49.16 | 1.91% |
| 2000 | $50.26 | 2.24% |
| 2001 | $51.91 | 3.27% |
| 2002 | $52.58 | 1.30% |
| 2003 | $53.71 | 2.15% |
| 2004 | $55.74 | 3.79% |
| 2005 | $56.82 | 1.93% |
| 2006 | $57.82 | 1.76% |
| 2007 | $60.25 | 4.21% |
| 2008 | $64.11 | 6.40% |
| 2009 | $64.41 | 0.47% |
| 2010 | $64.62 | 0.33% |
| 2011 | $67.72 | 4.80% |
| 2012 | $69.39 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $70.02 | 0.90% |
| 2014 | $71.69 | 2.39% |
| 2015 | $72.53 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | $71.58 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $71.43 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $71.75 | 0.45% |
| 2019 | $72.39 | 0.88% |
| 2020 | $74.92 | 3.50% |
| 2021 | $77.51 | 3.46% |
| 2022 | $86.36 | 11.42% |
| 2023 | $90.70 | 5.02% |
| 2024 | $91.78 | 1.19% |
| 2025 | $93.80 | 2.21% |
| 2026 | $94.00 | 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 |