According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food away from home are 692.16% higher in 2026 versus 1974 (a $138.43 difference in value).
Between 1974 and 2026, Food away from home experienced an average inflation rate of 4.06% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food away from home costing $20 in the year 1974 would cost $158.43 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.74% during this same period, inflation for food away from home was higher.
In the year 1974: Pricing changed by 12.77%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food away from home during the 1974-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1974 (11.05%), inflation for food away from home was higher.
Food away from home prices are up 3.5% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food away from home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1974. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | $20.00 | 12.77% |
| 1975 | $21.87 | 9.35% |
| 1976 | $23.35 | 6.76% |
| 1977 | $25.12 | 7.58% |
| 1978 | $27.41 | 9.11% |
| 1979 | $30.47 | 11.17% |
| 1980 | $33.49 | 9.94% |
| 1981 | $36.50 | 8.99% |
| 1982 | $38.45 | 5.34% |
| 1983 | $40.13 | 4.37% |
| 1984 | $41.83 | 4.23% |
| 1985 | $43.48 | 3.95% |
| 1986 | $45.18 | 3.91% |
| 1987 | $46.98 | 3.98% |
| 1988 | $48.88 | 4.04% |
| 1989 | $51.14 | 4.62% |
| 1990 | $53.55 | 4.72% |
| 1991 | $55.36 | 3.38% |
| 1992 | $56.48 | 2.02% |
| 1993 | $57.49 | 1.79% |
| 1994 | $58.46 | 1.69% |
| 1995 | $59.79 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $61.28 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $63.02 | 2.85% |
| 1998 | $64.65 | 2.58% |
| 1999 | $66.27 | 2.50% |
| 2000 | $67.83 | 2.35% |
| 2001 | $69.78 | 2.88% |
| 2002 | $71.57 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $73.10 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $75.27 | 2.97% |
| 2005 | $77.64 | 3.15% |
| 2006 | $80.03 | 3.08% |
| 2007 | $82.95 | 3.65% |
| 2008 | $86.61 | 4.41% |
| 2009 | $89.62 | 3.48% |
| 2010 | $90.76 | 1.27% |
| 2011 | $92.89 | 2.34% |
| 2012 | $95.53 | 2.85% |
| 2013 | $97.57 | 2.14% |
| 2014 | $99.94 | 2.43% |
| 2015 | $102.80 | 2.86% |
| 2016 | $105.45 | 2.58% |
| 2017 | $107.91 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $110.74 | 2.63% |
| 2019 | $114.16 | 3.09% |
| 2020 | $117.99 | 3.35% |
| 2021 | $123.35 | 4.54% |
| 2022 | $132.79 | 7.66% |
| 2023 | $142.20 | 7.08% |
| 2024 | $148.02 | 4.09% |
| 2025 | $153.59 | 3.77% |
| 2026 | $158.43 | 3.15%* |
* 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 away from home:
| Year | 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 | 21.533 | 21.900 | 22.133 | 22.558 | 23.433 | 24.108 | 24.792 | 25.450 | 26.000 | 26.717 | 27.308 | 27.775 | 28.400 | 29.700 | 31.225 | 32.858 | 34.875 | 37.475 | 39.408 | 40.983 | 44.183 | 49.825 | 54.483 | 58.167 | 62.575 | 68.275 | 75.900 | 83.442 | 90.942 | 95.800 | 99.983 | 104.208 | 108.325 | 112.558 | 117.033 | 121.767 | 127.392 | 133.408 | 137.917 | 140.700 | 143.225 | 145.650 | 148.958 | 152.658 | 157.008 | 161.067 | 165.100 | 168.983 | 173.850 | 178.292 | 182.100 | 187.508 | 193.417 | 199.383 | 206.659 | 215.769 | 223.272 | 226.114 | 231.401 | 237.987 | 243.069 | 248.981 | 256.101 | 262.695 | 268.826 | 275.893 | 284.410 | 293.944 | 307.296 | 330.822 | 354.256 | 368.743 | 382.634 | 394.694 |