According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 214.98% higher in 2025 versus 1985 (a $1,504,889,374.41 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 $700,000,000 in the year 1985 would cost $2,204,889,374.41 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 $700,000,000 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 | $700,000,000.00 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $722,838,831.84 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $752,254,023.74 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $783,300,560.77 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $827,703,736.07 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $875,369,601.63 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $906,569,077.27 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $919,110,042.97 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $938,329,327.80 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $960,148,568.93 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $986,606,947.78 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $1,018,673,075.52 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $1,045,386,352.05 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $1,067,613,429.47 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $1,090,605,199.91 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $1,115,789,090.38 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $1,150,302,235.82 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $1,171,458,742.99 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $1,196,489,694.85 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $1,236,865,486.85 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $1,266,943,412.72 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $1,296,664,481.83 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $1,347,335,591.00 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $1,419,743,354.45 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $1,446,411,768.99 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $1,457,908,673.80 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $1,510,144,854.71 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $1,548,609,423.93 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $1,570,452,625.45 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $1,606,788,799.07 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $1,635,655,960.96 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $1,641,278,493.92 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $1,655,755,662.37 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $1,679,012,526.40 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $1,709,939,771.32 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $1,767,012,380.74 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $1,834,537,324.30 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $2,010,197,509.29 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $2,123,981,793.02 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $2,171,508,994.25 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $2,204,889,374.41 | 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 |