According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food away from home are 437.72% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $87.54 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Food away from home experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food away from home costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $107.54 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for food away from home was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 9.11%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for food away from home during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for food away from home was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food away from home, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 9.11% |
| 1979 | $22.23 | 11.16% |
| 1980 | $24.44 | 9.93% |
| 1981 | $26.64 | 8.99% |
| 1982 | $28.06 | 5.35% |
| 1983 | $29.29 | 4.37% |
| 1984 | $30.53 | 4.22% |
| 1985 | $31.73 | 3.95% |
| 1986 | $32.97 | 3.91% |
| 1987 | $34.28 | 3.98% |
| 1988 | $35.67 | 4.05% |
| 1989 | $37.32 | 4.62% |
| 1990 | $39.08 | 4.72% |
| 1991 | $40.40 | 3.38% |
| 1992 | $41.21 | 2.02% |
| 1993 | $41.95 | 1.79% |
| 1994 | $42.67 | 1.70% |
| 1995 | $43.63 | 2.27% |
| 1996 | $44.72 | 2.48% |
| 1997 | $45.99 | 2.85% |
| 1998 | $47.18 | 2.59% |
| 1999 | $48.36 | 2.50% |
| 2000 | $49.50 | 2.35% |
| 2001 | $50.93 | 2.88% |
| 2002 | $52.23 | 2.55% |
| 2003 | $53.34 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | $54.93 | 2.97% |
| 2005 | $56.66 | 3.15% |
| 2006 | $58.40 | 3.09% |
| 2007 | $60.54 | 3.65% |
| 2008 | $63.20 | 4.41% |
| 2009 | $65.40 | 3.48% |
| 2010 | $66.23 | 1.27% |
| 2011 | $67.78 | 2.34% |
| 2012 | $69.71 | 2.85% |
| 2013 | $71.20 | 2.14% |
| 2014 | $72.93 | 2.43% |
| 2015 | $75.02 | 2.86% |
| 2016 | $76.95 | 2.58% |
| 2017 | $78.75 | 2.33% |
| 2018 | $80.82 | 2.63% |
| 2019 | $83.31 | 3.09% |
| 2020 | $86.10 | 3.35% |
| 2021 | $90.01 | 4.54% |
| 2022 | $96.91 | 7.66% |
| 2023 | $103.77 | 7.08% |
| 2024 | $107.54 | 3.64%* |
* 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 away from home:
| Year | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 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 |
| CPI | 21.531 | 21.900 | 22.131 | 22.562 | 23.431 | 24.108 | 24.792 | 25.446 | 26.000 | 26.715 | 27.308 | 27.777 | 28.400 | 29.700 | 31.231 | 32.862 | 34.877 | 37.477 | 39.408 | 40.985 | 44.185 | 49.823 | 54.485 | 58.169 | 62.577 | 68.277 | 75.900 | 83.438 | 90.938 | 95.800 | 99.985 | 104.208 | 108.323 | 112.554 | 117.031 | 121.769 | 127.392 | 133.408 | 137.915 | 140.700 | 143.223 | 145.654 | 148.962 | 152.662 | 157.008 | 161.069 | 165.100 | 168.985 | 173.854 | 178.292 | 182.100 | 187.508 | 193.415 | 199.385 | 206.659 | 215.769 | 223.272 | 226.114 | 231.401 | 237.986 | 243.068 | 248.981 | 256.101 | 262.695 | 268.826 | 275.893 | 284.410 | 293.944 | 307.296 | 330.822 | 354.256 | 367.139 |