According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $52,847,041,283.54 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 $7,181,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $60,028,041,283.54 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 $7,181,000,000 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 | $7,181,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $7,402,610,312.44 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $7,708,184,780.53 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $8,732,272,187.08 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $9,933,923,135.90 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $10,772,188,230.78 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $11,105,291,930.23 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $11,767,369,944.41 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $12,916,715,353.65 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $14,300,059,229.44 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $15,523,733,563.35 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $16,730,890,358.44 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $17,412,238,834.58 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $17,800,400,996.74 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $18,469,361,318.77 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $18,900,193,789.53 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $19,516,848,571.98 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $20,311,066,896.68 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $21,149,331,991.57 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $22,348,230,017.25 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $23,635,221,583.29 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $24,477,616,062.87 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $24,816,225,608.59 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $25,335,151,619.70 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $25,924,277,170.79 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $26,638,660,724.55 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $27,504,455,050.80 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $28,225,720,912.40 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $28,825,858,156.03 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $29,446,642,323.17 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $30,126,614,337.74 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $31,058,478,819.24 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $31,629,710,369.94 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $32,305,552,999.81 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $33,395,710,561.63 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $34,207,822,886.72 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $35,010,299,980.83 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $36,378,433,956.30 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $38,333,463,615.10 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $39,053,518,190.53 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $39,363,937,803.34 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $40,774,329,148.94 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $41,812,883,166.57 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $42,402,655,654.59 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $43,383,742,401.76 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $44,163,163,764.62 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $44,314,973,710.94 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $44,705,861,267.01 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $45,333,803,034.31 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $46,168,847,209.12 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $47,709,823,463.68 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $49,533,015,633.51 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $54,275,889,258.19 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $57,348,096,419.40 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $58,631,344,009.97 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $60,028,041,283.54 | 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 |