According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 214.98% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $42,996,839.27 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2025: 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 $20,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $62,996,839.27 in 2025 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 1985-2025 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 $20,000,000 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 | $20,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $20,652,538.05 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $21,492,972.11 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $22,380,016.02 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $23,648,678.17 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $25,010,560.05 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $25,901,973.64 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $26,260,286.94 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $26,809,409.37 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $27,432,816.26 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $28,188,769.94 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $29,104,945.01 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $29,868,181.49 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $30,503,240.84 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $31,160,148.57 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $31,879,688.30 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $32,865,778.17 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $33,470,249.80 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $34,185,419.85 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $35,339,013.91 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $36,198,383.22 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $37,047,556.62 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $38,495,302.60 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $40,564,095.84 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $41,326,050.54 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $41,654,533.54 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $43,146,995.85 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $44,245,983.54 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $44,870,075.01 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $45,908,251.40 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $46,733,027.46 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $46,893,671.25 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $47,307,304.64 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $47,971,786.47 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $48,855,422.04 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $50,486,068.02 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $52,415,352.12 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $57,434,214.55 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $60,685,194.09 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $62,043,114.12 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $62,996,839.27 | 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 |