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According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food and beverages are 317.57% higher in 2025 versus 1979 (a $3,175.72 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2025: Food and beverages experienced an average inflation rate of 3.16% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food and beverages costing $1,000 in the year 1979 would cost $4,175.72 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.27% during this same period, inflation for food and beverages was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 10.71%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food and beverages during the 1979-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for food and beverages was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food and beverages, over time, for $1,000 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $1,000.00 | 10.71% |
| 1980 | $1,085.57 | 8.56% |
| 1981 | $1,169.99 | 7.78% |
| 1982 | $1,217.63 | 4.07% |
| 1983 | $1,244.78 | 2.23% |
| 1984 | $1,291.56 | 3.76% |
| 1985 | $1,321.69 | 2.33% |
| 1986 | $1,364.81 | 3.26% |
| 1987 | $1,420.35 | 4.07% |
| 1988 | $1,478.97 | 4.13% |
| 1989 | $1,562.81 | 5.67% |
| 1990 | $1,652.81 | 5.76% |
| 1991 | $1,711.71 | 3.56% |
| 1992 | $1,735.39 | 1.38% |
| 1993 | $1,771.68 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $1,812.88 | 2.33% |
| 1995 | $1,862.84 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | $1,923.38 | 3.25% |
| 1997 | $1,973.82 | 2.62% |
| 1998 | $2,015.79 | 2.13% |
| 1999 | $2,059.20 | 2.15% |
| 2000 | $2,106.75 | 2.31% |
| 2001 | $2,171.91 | 3.09% |
| 2002 | $2,211.86 | 1.84% |
| 2003 | $2,259.12 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $2,335.35 | 3.37% |
| 2005 | $2,392.15 | 2.43% |
| 2006 | $2,448.26 | 2.35% |
| 2007 | $2,543.94 | 3.91% |
| 2008 | $2,680.65 | 5.37% |
| 2009 | $2,731.00 | 1.88% |
| 2010 | $2,752.71 | 0.79% |
| 2011 | $2,851.34 | 3.58% |
| 2012 | $2,923.97 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $2,965.21 | 1.41% |
| 2014 | $3,033.82 | 2.31% |
| 2015 | $3,088.32 | 1.80% |
| 2016 | $3,098.94 | 0.34% |
| 2017 | $3,126.27 | 0.88% |
| 2018 | $3,170.18 | 1.40% |
| 2019 | $3,228.58 | 1.84% |
| 2020 | $3,336.34 | 3.34% |
| 2021 | $3,463.83 | 3.82% |
| 2022 | $3,795.50 | 9.58% |
| 2023 | $4,010.34 | 5.66% |
| 2024 | $4,100.08 | 2.24% |
| 2025 | $4,175.72 | 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 |