According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 754.05% higher in 2026 versus 1970 (a $904,863,787,375,415.25 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.90% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $120,000,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $1,024,863,787,375,415.25 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.45%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.84%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $120,000,000,000,000 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $120,000,000,000,000.00 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $123,687,707,641,196.02 | 3.07% |
| 1972 | $128,795,681,063,122.91 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $145,913,621,262,458.50 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $165,996,677,740,863.81 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $179,999,999,999,999.97 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $185,556,478,405,315.59 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $196,619,601,328,903.69 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $215,830,564,784,053.16 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $238,953,488,372,093.03 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $259,410,299,003,322.25 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $279,568,106,312,292.41 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $290,955,149,501,661.13 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $297,433,554,817,275.81 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $308,621,262,458,471.69 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $315,822,259,136,212.63 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $326,112,956,810,631.25 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $339,393,687,707,641.19 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $353,397,009,966,777.44 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $373,430,232,558,139.50 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $394,933,554,817,275.81 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $409,011,627,906,976.75 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $414,667,774,086,378.75 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $423,338,870,431,893.75 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $433,181,063,122,923.50 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $445,116,279,069,767.44 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $459,593,023,255,813.94 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $471,652,823,920,265.75 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $481,669,435,215,946.88 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $492,034,883,720,930.25 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $503,397,009,966,777.44 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $518,970,099,667,774.25 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $528,513,289,036,544.88 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $539,825,581,395,348.81 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $558,039,867,109,634.56 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $571,594,684,385,382.13 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $585,000,000,000,000.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $607,872,508,305,647.88 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $640,540,614,617,940.13 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $652,572,508,305,647.88 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $657,759,468,438,538.25 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $681,326,661,129,568.13 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $698,680,564,784,053.13 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $708,535,465,116,279.13 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $724,929,069,767,441.88 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $737,953,156,146,179.38 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $740,489,700,996,677.63 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $747,021,428,571,428.63 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $757,514,202,657,807.38 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $771,467,441,860,465.00 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $797,216,611,295,681.13 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $827,681,561,461,794.13 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $906,933,637,873,754.13 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $958,269,269,102,989.88 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $979,712,043,189,368.75 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,007,202,657,807,308.75 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $1,024,863,787,375,415.25 | 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 |