According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for full service meals and snacks are 126.12% higher in 2024 versus 1997 (a $25.22 difference in value).
Between 1997 and 2024: Full service meals and snacks experienced an average inflation rate of 3.07% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, full service meals and snacks costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $45.22 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.51% during this same period, inflation for full service meals and snacks was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Full service meals and snacks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | $20.00 | - |
| 1998 | $20.30 | 1.52% |
| 1999 | $20.86 | 2.72% |
| 2000 | $21.37 | 2.46% |
| 2001 | $22.05 | 3.20% |
| 2002 | $22.59 | 2.45% |
| 2003 | $23.05 | 2.04% |
| 2004 | $23.68 | 2.71% |
| 2005 | $24.38 | 2.96% |
| 2006 | $25.14 | 3.15% |
| 2007 | $26.04 | 3.56% |
| 2008 | $27.08 | 4.01% |
| 2009 | $27.84 | 2.81% |
| 2010 | $28.21 | 1.32% |
| 2011 | $28.87 | 2.34% |
| 2012 | $29.63 | 2.61% |
| 2013 | $30.29 | 2.24% |
| 2014 | $31.05 | 2.51% |
| 2015 | $31.88 | 2.66% |
| 2016 | $32.63 | 2.34% |
| 2017 | $33.41 | 2.41% |
| 2018 | $34.20 | 2.35% |
| 2019 | $35.28 | 3.17% |
| 2020 | $36.30 | 2.89% |
| 2021 | $37.94 | 4.51% |
| 2022 | $41.16 | 8.51% |
| 2023 | $43.67 | 6.09% |
| 2024 | $45.22 | 3.56%* |
* 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 Full service meals and snacks:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 101.515 | 104.277 | 106.838 | 110.262 | 112.962 | 115.262 | 118.385 | 121.885 | 125.723 | 130.203 | 135.422 | 139.223 | 141.064 | 144.371 | 148.142 | 151.465 | 155.269 | 159.394 | 163.125 | 167.059 | 170.981 | 176.399 | 181.503 | 189.681 | 205.825 | 218.353 | 226.121 |