According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 224.51% higher in 2026 versus 1985 (a $1,122,532,544,378,698,112 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2026:Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 2.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $500,000,000,000,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $1,622,532,544,378,698,240 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% 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 1985-2026 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 $500,000,000,000,000,000 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 | $500,000,000,000,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $516,291,913,214,990,080.00 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $537,317,554,240,631,168.00 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $559,487,179,487,179,520.00 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $591,203,155,818,540,416.00 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $625,246,548,323,471,488.00 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $647,534,516,765,285,888.00 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $656,489,151,873,767,296.00 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $670,216,962,524,654,848.00 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $685,798,816,568,047,360.00 | 2.32% |
| 1995 | $704,694,280,078,895,616.00 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $727,613,412,228,796,928.00 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $746,706,114,398,422,144.00 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $762,564,102,564,102,528.00 | 2.12% |
| 1999 | $778,974,358,974,359,040.00 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $796,962,524,654,832,384.00 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $821,617,357,001,972,480.00 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $836,725,838,264,299,520.00 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $854,635,108,481,262,208.00 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $883,471,400,394,477,184.00 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $904,930,966,469,427,968.00 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $926,153,846,153,846,144.00 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $962,364,891,518,737,408.00 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,014,084,023,668,638,976.00 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,033,132,544,378,698,112.00 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,041,344,378,698,224,896.00 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,078,655,226,824,457,472.00 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,106,129,388,560,157,696.00 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,121,731,360,946,745,472.00 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,147,685,207,100,591,616.00 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,168,304,536,489,152,000.00 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,172,320,315,581,853,952.00 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,182,661,143,984,221,184.00 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,199,272,978,303,747,584.00 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,221,363,313,609,467,392.00 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,262,128,599,605,522,688.00 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,310,359,763,313,609,728.00 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $1,435,829,191,321,499,136.00 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $1,517,102,169,625,246,464.00 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $1,551,049,704,142,012,160.00 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $1,594,571,992,110,453,504.00 | 2.81% |
| 2026 | $1,622,532,544,378,698,240.00 | 1.75%* |
* 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 | 336.853 | 342.760 |