According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 735.93% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $6,390,804,992.43 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 $868,400,000 in the year 1970 would cost $7,259,204,992.43 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 $868,400,000 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 | $868,400,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $895,199,386.62 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $932,152,578.11 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $1,055,995,706.34 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $1,201,311,635.04 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $1,302,683,227.91 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $1,342,965,535.75 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $1,423,030,783.98 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $1,562,021,391.60 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $1,729,309,488.21 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,877,288,709.99 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $2,023,270,461.95 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $2,105,666,091.62 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $2,152,606,632.16 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $2,233,504,159.48 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $2,285,604,830.36 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,360,177,036.61 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,456,222,043.32 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,557,593,636.19 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,702,576,653.25 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,858,212,842.63 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,960,083,802.95 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $3,001,031,934.06 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $3,063,785,777.27 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $3,135,028,867.17 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $3,221,419,436.46 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,326,120,145.68 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,413,342,994.06 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,485,917,730.50 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $3,560,989,304.20 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,643,218,478.05 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,755,909,066.51 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,824,988,230.78 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,906,718,037.19 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $4,038,551,044.66 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $4,136,759,977.00 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $4,233,803,718.61 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $4,399,252,478.44 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,635,674,669.73 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,722,751,036.99 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,760,290,152.96 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,930,849,106.38 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $5,056,441,685.26 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $5,127,763,009.39 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $5,246,406,057.89 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $5,340,661,664.56 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $5,359,020,076.67 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $5,406,290,199.73 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $5,482,227,343.68 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,583,209,429.94 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,769,560,046.77 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $5,990,039,099.87 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $6,563,595,910.29 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $6,935,118,636.76 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $7,090,302,066.32 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $7,259,204,992.43 | 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 |