According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 729.03% higher in 2025 versus 1970 (a $69,257,822,503.35 difference in value).
Between 1970 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.92% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $9,500,000,000 in the year 1970 would cost $78,757,822,503.35 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was higher.
In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 5.44%, which is above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1970-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $9,500,000,000 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | $9,500,000,000.00 | 5.44% |
| 1971 | $9,793,176,154.88 | 3.09% |
| 1972 | $10,197,431,474.03 | 4.13% |
| 1973 | $11,552,233,084.15 | 13.29% |
| 1974 | $13,141,939,812.15 | 13.76% |
| 1975 | $14,250,910,484.95 | 8.44% |
| 1976 | $14,691,585,202.22 | 3.09% |
| 1977 | $15,567,471,727.05 | 5.96% |
| 1978 | $17,087,981,598.62 | 9.77% |
| 1979 | $18,918,056,354.23 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $20,536,898,600.73 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $22,133,889,208.36 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $23,035,269,311.87 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $23,548,782,825.38 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $24,433,774,199.73 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $25,003,737,780.33 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $25,819,532,298.26 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $26,870,231,934.06 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $27,979,202,606.86 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $29,565,267,395.05 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $31,267,874,257.24 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $32,382,307,839.75 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $32,830,266,436.65 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $33,516,772,091.24 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $34,296,147,211.04 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $35,241,230,592.29 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $36,386,620,663.22 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $37,340,808,894.00 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $38,134,751,773.05 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $38,956,009,200.69 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $39,855,568,334.29 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $41,088,364,960.71 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $41,844,067,471.73 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $42,738,163,695.61 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $44,180,371,861.22 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $45,254,744,105.81 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $46,316,369,561.05 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $48,126,322,599.19 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $50,712,700,785.89 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $51,665,286,563.16 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $52,075,951,696.38 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $53,941,808,510.64 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $55,315,748,514.47 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $56,095,979,490.13 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $57,393,894,000.38 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $58,425,018,209.70 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $58,625,852,980.64 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $59,142,972,014.57 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $59,973,698,485.72 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $61,078,408,088.94 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $63,117,020,318.19 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $65,528,986,007.28 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $71,803,502,012.65 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $75,867,834,004.22 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $77,565,487,828.25 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $78,757,822,503.35 | 1.54%* |
* 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 | 332.696 |