According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 879.78% higher in 2026 versus 1967 (a $39,502,160,076.23 difference in value).
Between 1967 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $4,490,000,000 in the year 1967 would cost $43,992,160,076.23 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.94% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $4,490,000,000 beginning in 1967. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | $4,490,000,000.00 | - |
| 1968 | $4,653,642,210.58 | 3.64% |
| 1969 | $4,884,666,507.86 | 4.96% |
| 1970 | $5,150,986,183.90 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $5,309,280,609.81 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $5,528,539,780.85 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $6,263,325,393.04 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $7,125,388,280.13 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $7,726,479,275.85 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $7,964,990,471.65 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $8,439,873,749.40 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $9,264,502,143.88 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $10,257,050,976.66 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $11,135,157,217.72 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $12,000,428,775.61 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $12,489,216,293.47 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $12,767,301,095.76 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $13,247,532,158.17 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $13,556,634,111.48 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $13,998,361,124.34 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $14,568,434,969.03 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $15,169,525,964.75 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $16,029,449,737.97 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $16,952,477,370.18 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $17,556,777,036.68 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $17,799,566,460.22 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $18,171,772,272.51 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $18,594,247,260.60 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $19,106,565,030.97 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $19,727,977,608.38 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $20,245,643,163.41 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $20,675,605,050.02 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $21,120,540,733.68 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $21,608,258,694.62 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $22,276,731,777.04 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $22,686,372,081.94 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $23,171,950,929.01 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $23,953,797,046.21 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $24,535,636,017.15 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $25,111,057,646.50 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $26,092,857,432.11 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $27,495,132,134.35 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $28,011,599,785.61 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $28,234,249,452.12 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $29,245,868,484.99 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $29,990,782,801.33 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $30,413,803,263.46 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $31,117,496,855.65 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $31,676,554,263.94 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $31,785,435,159.60 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $32,065,808,813.72 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $32,516,209,933.30 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $33,115,151,119.58 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $34,220,431,252.98 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $35,528,135,731.30 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $38,930,021,986.66 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $41,133,598,046.69 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $42,054,026,655.55 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $43,234,058,122.92 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $43,992,160,076.23 | 1.75%* |
* 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 and beverages:
| Year | 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 | 34.983 | 36.258 | 38.058 | 40.133 | 41.367 | 43.075 | 48.800 | 55.517 | 60.200 | 62.058 | 65.758 | 72.183 | 79.917 | 86.758 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.475 | 103.217 | 105.625 | 109.067 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.083 | 136.792 | 138.683 | 141.583 | 144.875 | 148.867 | 153.708 | 157.742 | 161.092 | 164.558 | 168.358 | 173.567 | 176.758 | 180.542 | 186.633 | 191.167 | 195.650 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.448 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 336.853 | 342.760 |