According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 594.38% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $11,887,581.97 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2026: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $2,000,000 in the year 1973 would cost $13,887,581.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.82% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 13.29%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for food and beverages was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $2,000,000 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $2,000,000.00 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $2,275,273.22 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $2,467,213.11 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $2,543,374.32 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $2,695,013.66 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $2,958,333.33 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $3,275,273.22 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $3,555,669.40 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $3,831,967.21 | 7.77% |
| 1982 | $3,988,046.45 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $4,076,844.26 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $4,230,191.26 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $4,328,893.44 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $4,469,945.36 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $4,651,980.87 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $4,843,920.77 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $5,118,510.93 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $5,413,251.37 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $5,606,215.85 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $5,683,743.17 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $5,802,595.63 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $5,937,500.00 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $6,101,092.90 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $6,299,521.86 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $6,464,822.40 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $6,602,117.49 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $6,744,193.99 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $6,899,931.69 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $7,113,387.98 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $7,244,193.99 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $7,399,248.63 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $7,648,907.10 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $7,834,699.45 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $8,018,442.62 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $8,331,950.14 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $8,779,723.36 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $8,944,641.39 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $9,015,737.70 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $9,338,767.08 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $9,576,632.51 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $9,711,711.07 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $9,936,413.93 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $10,114,931.69 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $10,149,699.45 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $10,239,228.14 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $10,383,049.86 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $10,574,303.28 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $10,927,240.44 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $11,344,815.57 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $12,431,103.14 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $13,134,747.27 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $13,428,657.79 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $13,790,834.58 | 2.70% |
| 2026 | $13,887,581.97 | 0.70%* |
* 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 | 336.496 | 338.857 |