According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $544,587,251,773.05 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 $74,000,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $618,587,251,773.05 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 $74,000,000,000 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 | $74,000,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $76,283,687,943.26 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $79,432,624,113.48 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $89,985,815,602.84 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $102,368,794,326.24 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $111,007,092,198.58 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $114,439,716,312.06 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $121,262,411,347.52 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $133,106,382,978.72 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $147,361,702,127.66 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $159,971,631,205.67 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $172,411,347,517.73 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $179,432,624,113.48 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $183,432,624,113.48 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $190,326,241,134.75 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $194,765,957,446.81 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $201,120,567,375.89 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $209,304,964,539.01 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $217,943,262,411.35 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $230,297,872,340.43 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $243,560,283,687.94 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $252,241,134,751.77 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $255,730,496,453.90 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $261,078,014,184.40 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $267,148,936,170.21 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $274,510,638,297.87 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $283,432,624,113.48 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $290,865,248,226.95 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $297,049,645,390.07 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $303,446,808,510.64 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $310,453,900,709.22 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $320,056,737,588.65 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $325,943,262,411.35 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $332,907,801,418.44 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $344,141,843,971.63 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $352,510,638,297.87 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $360,780,141,843.97 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $374,878,723,404.26 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $395,025,248,226.95 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $402,445,390,070.92 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $405,644,255,319.15 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $420,178,297,872.34 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $430,880,567,375.89 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $436,958,156,028.37 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $447,068,226,950.35 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $455,100,141,843.97 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $456,664,539,007.09 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $460,692,624,113.48 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $467,163,546,099.29 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $475,768,652,482.27 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $491,648,368,794.33 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $510,436,312,056.74 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $559,311,489,361.70 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $590,970,496,453.90 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $604,194,326,241.13 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $618,587,251,773.05 | 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 |