According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food away from home were 1,295.13% higher in 2021 versus 1953 (a $259.03 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2021: Food away from home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.95% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food away from home costing $20 in the year 1953 would cost $279.03 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.41% 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 | 21.531 | 21.900 | 22.131 | 22.562 | 23.431 | 24.108 | 24.792 | 25.446 | 26.000 | 26.715 | 27.308 | 27.777 | 28.400 | 29.700 | 31.231 | 32.862 | 34.877 | 37.477 | 39.408 | 40.985 | 44.185 | 49.823 | 54.485 | 58.169 | 62.577 | 68.277 | 75.900 | 83.438 | 90.938 | 95.800 | 99.985 | 104.208 | 108.323 | 112.554 | 117.031 | 121.769 | 127.392 | 133.408 | 137.915 | 140.700 | 143.223 | 145.654 | 148.962 | 152.662 | 157.008 | 161.069 | 165.100 | 168.985 | 173.854 | 178.292 | 182.100 | 187.508 | 193.415 | 199.385 | 206.659 | 215.769 | 223.272 | 226.114 | 231.401 | 237.986 | 243.068 | 248.981 | 256.101 | 262.695 | 268.826 | 275.893 | 284.410 | 293.944 | 300.382 |
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 | 1.71% |
| 1955 | $20.56 | 1.05% |
| 1956 | $20.96 | 1.95% |
| 1957 | $21.76 | 3.85% |
| 1958 | $22.39 | 2.89% |
| 1959 | $23.03 | 2.84% |
| 1960 | $23.64 | 2.64% |
| 1961 | $24.15 | 2.18% |
| 1962 | $24.82 | 2.75% |
| 1963 | $25.37 | 2.22% |
| 1964 | $25.80 | 1.72% |
| 1965 | $26.38 | 2.24% |
| 1966 | $27.59 | 4.58% |
| 1967 | $29.01 | 5.15% |
| 1968 | $30.53 | 5.22% |
| 1969 | $32.40 | 6.13% |
| 1970 | $34.81 | 7.45% |
| 1971 | $36.61 | 5.15% |
| 1972 | $38.07 | 4.00% |
| 1973 | $41.04 | 7.81% |
| 1974 | $46.28 | 12.76% |
| 1975 | $50.61 | 9.36% |
| 1976 | $54.03 | 6.76% |
| 1977 | $58.13 | 7.58% |
| 1978 | $63.42 | 9.11% |
| 1979 | $70.50 | 11.16% |
| 1980 | $77.51 | 9.93% |
| 1981 | $84.47 | 8.99% |
| 1982 | $88.99 | 5.35% |
| 1983 | $92.88 | 4.37% |
| 1984 | $96.80 | 4.22% |
| 1985 | $100.62 | 3.95% |
| 1986 | $104.55 | 3.91% |
| 1987 | $108.71 | 3.98% |
| 1988 | $113.11 | 4.05% |
| 1989 | $118.34 | 4.62% |
| 1990 | $123.92 | 4.72% |
| 1991 | $128.11 | 3.38% |
| 1992 | $130.70 | 2.02% |
| 1993 | $133.04 | 1.79% |
| 1994 | $135.30 | 1.70% |
| 1995 | $138.37 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $141.81 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $145.84 | 2.85% |
| 1998 | $149.62 | 2.59% |
| 1999 | $153.36 | 2.50% |
| 2000 | $156.97 | 2.35% |
| 2001 | $161.49 | 2.88% |
| 2002 | $165.62 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $169.15 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $174.18 | 2.97% |
| 2005 | $179.66 | 3.15% |
| 2006 | $185.21 | 3.09% |
| 2007 | $191.97 | 3.65% |
| 2008 | $200.43 | 4.41% |
| 2009 | $207.40 | 3.48% |
| 2010 | $210.04 | 1.27% |
| 2011 | $214.95 | 2.34% |
| 2012 | $221.07 | 2.85% |
| 2013 | $225.79 | 2.14% |
| 2014 | $231.28 | 2.43% |
| 2015 | $237.89 | 2.86% |
| 2016 | $244.02 | 2.58% |
| 2017 | $249.71 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $256.28 | 2.63% |
| 2019 | $264.19 | 3.09% |
| 2020 | $273.05 | 3.35% |
| 2021 | $279.03 | 2.19%* |