According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $16,589,223,258.73 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2025: 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 $2,254,188,869 in the year 1970 would cost $18,843,412,127.73 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.92% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.44%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $2,254,188,869 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 | $2,254,188,869.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $2,323,754,597.95 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $2,419,677,528.54 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $2,741,148,971.62 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $3,118,359,414.91 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $3,381,499,346.14 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $3,486,063,982.19 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $3,693,896,998.48 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $4,054,688,201.40 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $4,488,933,900.72 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $4,873,057,708.37 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $5,251,996,492.75 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $5,465,878,702.87 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $5,587,726,749.84 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $5,797,720,192.49 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $5,932,962,882.93 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $6,126,537,085.21 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $6,375,850,287.71 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $6,638,990,218.94 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $7,015,336,491.68 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $7,419,336,221.89 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $7,683,772,408.94 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $7,790,065,386.08 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $7,952,961,533.99 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $8,137,894,030.81 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $8,362,146,287.47 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $8,633,927,924.16 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $8,860,340,607.19 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $9,048,729,786.20 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $9,243,600,244.30 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $9,457,050,369.14 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $9,749,572,098.93 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $9,928,887,487.21 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $10,141,041,356.23 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $10,483,252,892.41 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $10,738,183,203.45 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $10,990,088,917.58 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $11,419,560,074.63 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $12,033,263,750.37 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $12,259,296,198.35 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $12,356,740,069.11 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $12,799,476,244.04 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $13,125,488,903.34 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $13,310,624,480.24 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $13,618,597,579.39 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $13,863,265,865.20 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $13,910,920,549.96 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $14,033,624,125.77 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $14,230,741,427.29 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $14,492,870,278.98 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $14,976,598,383.76 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $15,548,916,932.05 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $17,037,753,157.07 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $18,002,150,202.89 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $18,404,974,661.16 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $18,843,412,127.73 | 2.38%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 34.985 | 36.254 | 38.062 | 40.131 | 41.369 | 43.077 | 48.800 | 55.515 | 60.200 | 62.062 | 65.762 | 72.185 | 79.915 | 86.754 | 93.500 | 97.308 | 99.477 | 103.215 | 105.623 | 109.069 | 113.508 | 118.192 | 124.892 | 132.085 | 136.792 | 138.685 | 141.585 | 144.877 | 148.869 | 153.708 | 157.738 | 161.092 | 164.562 | 168.362 | 173.569 | 176.762 | 180.538 | 186.631 | 191.169 | 195.654 | 203.300 | 214.225 | 218.249 | 219.984 | 227.866 | 233.670 | 236.966 | 242.449 | 246.804 | 247.653 | 249.837 | 253.346 | 258.013 | 266.625 | 276.814 | 303.319 | 320.488 | 327.659 | 335.465 |