According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 583.82% higher in 2025 versus 1973 (a $198,499,153,005.46 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.77% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $34,000,000,000 in the year 1973 would cost $232,499,153,005.46 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.86% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 13.29%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1973-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for food and beverages was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $34,000,000,000 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
---|---|---|
1973 | $34,000,000,000.00 | 13.29% |
1974 | $38,678,751,576.29 | 13.76% |
1975 | $41,942,622,950.82 | 8.44% |
1976 | $43,239,596,469.10 | 3.09% |
1977 | $45,817,465,321.56 | 5.96% |
1978 | $50,292,559,899.12 | 9.77% |
1979 | $55,678,751,576.29 | 10.71% |
1980 | $60,443,253,467.84 | 8.56% |
1981 | $65,143,442,622.95 | 7.78% |
1982 | $67,796,343,001.26 | 4.07% |
1983 | $69,307,692,307.69 | 2.23% |
1984 | $71,912,358,133.67 | 3.76% |
1985 | $73,589,848,675.91 | 2.33% |
1986 | $75,990,857,503.15 | 3.26% |
1987 | $79,083,228,247.16 | 4.07% |
1988 | $82,347,099,621.69 | 4.13% |
1989 | $87,015,132,408.58 | 5.67% |
1990 | $92,026,166,456.49 | 5.76% |
1991 | $95,306,116,015.13 | 3.56% |
1992 | $96,624,527,112.23 | 1.38% |
1993 | $98,645,018,915.51 | 2.09% |
1994 | $100,938,839,848.68 | 2.33% |
1995 | $103,720,365,699.87 | 2.76% |
1996 | $107,091,424,968.47 | 3.25% |
1997 | $109,899,747,793.19 | 2.62% |
1998 | $112,236,443,883.98 | 2.13% |
1999 | $114,653,530,895.33 | 2.15% |
2000 | $117,301,071,878.94 | 2.31% |
2001 | $120,929,382,093.32 | 3.09% |
2002 | $123,153,530,895.33 | 1.84% |
2003 | $125,784,993,694.83 | 2.14% |
2004 | $130,029,634,300.13 | 3.37% |
2005 | $133,191,677,175.28 | 2.43% |
2006 | $136,316,204,287.52 | 2.35% |
2007 | $141,643,174,653.22 | 3.91% |
2008 | $149,255,283,732.66 | 5.37% |
2009 | $152,058,890,290.04 | 1.88% |
2010 | $153,267,540,983.61 | 0.79% |
2011 | $158,759,044,766.71 | 3.58% |
2012 | $162,802,761,664.56 | 2.55% |
2013 | $165,099,101,513.24 | 1.41% |
2014 | $168,919,063,682.22 | 2.31% |
2015 | $171,953,820,933.17 | 1.80% |
2016 | $172,544,908,575.03 | 0.34% |
2017 | $174,066,869,482.98 | 0.88% |
2018 | $176,511,825,346.78 | 1.40% |
2019 | $179,763,155,737.70 | 1.84% |
2020 | $185,763,105,296.34 | 3.34% |
2021 | $192,861,891,551.07 | 3.82% |
2022 | $211,328,757,881.46 | 9.58% |
2023 | $223,290,712,484.24 | 5.66% |
2024 | $228,287,168,978.56 | 2.24% |
2025 | $232,499,153,005.46 | 1.85%* |
* 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 | 333.705 |