According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 217.61% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $5,037,565,646.62 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.93% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $2,315,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $7,352,565,646.62 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.77% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 2.33%, which is below the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1985-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $2,315,000,000 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $2,315,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $2,390,531,279.59 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $2,487,811,521.37 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $2,590,486,854.56 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $2,737,334,498.58 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $2,894,972,325.40 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $2,998,153,448.40 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $3,039,628,213.53 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $3,103,189,134.08 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $3,175,348,481.54 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $3,262,850,120.17 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $3,368,897,385.48 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $3,457,242,007.14 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $3,530,750,127.45 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $3,606,787,196.85 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $3,690,073,920.33 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $3,804,213,822.74 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $3,874,181,414.32 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $3,956,962,347.97 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $4,090,490,860.10 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $4,189,962,857.77 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $4,288,254,679.19 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $4,455,831,275.94 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $4,695,294,093.66 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $4,783,490,350.30 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $4,821,512,256.94 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $4,994,264,769.50 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $5,121,472,594.86 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $5,193,711,182.73 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $5,313,880,099.77 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $5,409,347,928.05 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $5,427,942,447.75 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $5,475,820,511.98 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $5,552,734,283.74 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $5,655,015,100.87 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $5,843,762,373.46 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $6,067,077,008.23 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $6,648,010,334.28 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $7,024,311,215.50 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $7,181,490,459.54 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $7,352,565,646.62 | 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 |