Food priced at $20 in 2000 $31.85 in 2020

Food Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Food, 2000-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food were 59.23% higher in 2020 versus 2000 (a $11.85 difference in value).

Between 2000 and 2020: Food experienced an average inflation rate of 2.35% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food costing $20 in the year 2000 would cost $31.85 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.06% during this same period, inflation for food was higher.

In the year 2000: Pricing changed by 2.26%, which is below the average yearly change for food during the 2000-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2000 (3.38%), inflation for food was lower.

Price Inflation for Food since 1913

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1917 (28.65%), 1921 (-24.20%), and 1947 (21.43%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2000

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food, over time, for $20 beginning in 2000. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2000$20.002.26%
2001$20.633.14%
2002$21.001.81%
2003$21.452.13%
2004$22.193.44%
2005$22.732.44%
2006$23.262.34%
2007$24.183.97%
2008$25.525.51%
2009$25.981.80%
2010$26.170.77%
2011$27.153.74%
2012$27.862.61%
2013$28.251.39%
2014$28.932.40%
2015$29.471.86%
2016$29.550.28%
2017$29.800.86%
2018$30.221.40%
2019$30.791.88%
2020$31.853.45%
2021$33.103.94%
2022$36.409.95%
2023$38.495.76%
2024$39.251.97%*

* 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:

Year1913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.92310.15410.05411.27714.50816.70018.57720.97715.90014.89215.38515.23116.50017.04616.43116.24616.45415.64612.90010.72310.41511.60812.45412.56913.08512.13811.82311.98513.07715.38517.10016.87717.26219.81524.06226.08525.06225.39228.22328.72328.26928.23827.81528.02328.92330.16929.66230.01530.36230.63131.06931.47732.17733.80834.06235.29237.10839.20040.35442.09248.17755.11559.79261.63165.51572.05479.91586.77793.56297.35499.408103.231105.569108.946113.485118.177125.077132.369136.254137.892140.862144.277148.415153.285157.277160.685164.100167.815173.085176.215179.977186.177190.723195.177202.916214.106217.955219.625227.842233.777237.037242.725247.235247.931250.065253.558258.316267.219277.756305.388322.965329.334

Adjust food prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 2000 * 2000 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Food was 167.815 in the year 2000 and 267.219 in 2020:

267.219 / 167.815 * $20 = $31.85

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2000 has the same "purchasing power" as $31.85 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Food).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Food in 1913. In addition to food, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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