According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food away from home were 1,310.67% higher in 2021 versus 1953 (a $262.13 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2021: Food away from home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food away from home costing $20 in the year 1953 would cost $282.13 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.45% during this same period, inflation for food away from home was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Food away from home:
| Year | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 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 |
| CPI | 21.533 | 21.900 | 22.150 | 22.558 | 23.417 | 24.117 | 24.792 | 25.442 | 26.000 | 26.700 | 27.317 | 27.783 | 28.383 | 29.700 | 31.250 | 32.858 | 34.858 | 37.475 | 39.408 | 40.975 | 44.192 | 49.825 | 54.492 | 58.167 | 62.575 | 68.275 | 75.917 | 83.458 | 90.933 | 95.800 | 99.983 | 104.208 | 108.325 | 112.558 | 117.033 | 121.767 | 127.392 | 133.400 | 137.908 | 140.692 | 143.225 | 145.650 | 148.958 | 152.658 | 157.008 | 161.067 | 165.100 | 168.983 | 173.850 | 178.292 | 182.100 | 187.508 | 193.417 | 199.383 | 206.659 | 215.769 | 223.272 | 226.114 | 231.401 | 237.986 | 243.069 | 248.981 | 256.101 | 262.695 | 268.826 | 275.893 | 284.410 | 293.944 | 303.764 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food away from home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1953. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $20.00 | - |
| 1954 | $20.34 | 1.70% |
| 1955 | $20.57 | 1.14% |
| 1956 | $20.95 | 1.84% |
| 1957 | $21.75 | 3.80% |
| 1958 | $22.40 | 2.99% |
| 1959 | $23.03 | 2.80% |
| 1960 | $23.63 | 2.62% |
| 1961 | $24.15 | 2.19% |
| 1962 | $24.80 | 2.69% |
| 1963 | $25.37 | 2.31% |
| 1964 | $25.80 | 1.71% |
| 1965 | $26.36 | 2.16% |
| 1966 | $27.59 | 4.64% |
| 1967 | $29.02 | 5.22% |
| 1968 | $30.52 | 5.15% |
| 1969 | $32.38 | 6.09% |
| 1970 | $34.81 | 7.51% |
| 1971 | $36.60 | 5.16% |
| 1972 | $38.06 | 3.98% |
| 1973 | $41.04 | 7.85% |
| 1974 | $46.28 | 12.75% |
| 1975 | $50.61 | 9.37% |
| 1976 | $54.02 | 6.74% |
| 1977 | $58.12 | 7.58% |
| 1978 | $63.41 | 9.11% |
| 1979 | $70.51 | 11.19% |
| 1980 | $77.52 | 9.93% |
| 1981 | $84.46 | 8.96% |
| 1982 | $88.98 | 5.35% |
| 1983 | $92.86 | 4.37% |
| 1984 | $96.79 | 4.23% |
| 1985 | $100.61 | 3.95% |
| 1986 | $104.54 | 3.91% |
| 1987 | $108.70 | 3.98% |
| 1988 | $113.10 | 4.04% |
| 1989 | $118.32 | 4.62% |
| 1990 | $123.90 | 4.72% |
| 1991 | $128.09 | 3.38% |
| 1992 | $130.67 | 2.02% |
| 1993 | $133.03 | 1.80% |
| 1994 | $135.28 | 1.69% |
| 1995 | $138.35 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $141.79 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $145.83 | 2.85% |
| 1998 | $149.60 | 2.58% |
| 1999 | $153.34 | 2.50% |
| 2000 | $156.95 | 2.35% |
| 2001 | $161.47 | 2.88% |
| 2002 | $165.60 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $169.13 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $174.16 | 2.97% |
| 2005 | $179.64 | 3.15% |
| 2006 | $185.19 | 3.08% |
| 2007 | $191.94 | 3.65% |
| 2008 | $200.40 | 4.41% |
| 2009 | $207.37 | 3.48% |
| 2010 | $210.01 | 1.27% |
| 2011 | $214.92 | 2.34% |
| 2012 | $221.04 | 2.85% |
| 2013 | $225.76 | 2.14% |
| 2014 | $231.25 | 2.43% |
| 2015 | $237.86 | 2.86% |
| 2016 | $243.99 | 2.58% |
| 2017 | $249.68 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $256.25 | 2.63% |
| 2019 | $264.16 | 3.09% |
| 2020 | $273.01 | 3.35% |
| 2021 | $282.13 | 3.34%* |