Restaurant meals (food away from home) inflation
Restaurant meals (food away from home) prices since 2000
Up 135%
An average of 3.33% a year, compared with 95% for all U.S. prices (overall CPI). $100 of 2000 restaurant meals (food away from home) costs $235.42 in August 2026.
Last 12 months (to August 2026)
3.4%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1953
How much restaurant meals (food away from home) prices have risen
| Since | Restaurant meals (food away from home) | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +961% | +763% | $1,060.98 |
| 1980 | +377% | +307% | $477.06 |
| 1990 | +198% | +156% | $298.25 |
| 2000 | +135% | +95% | $235.42 |
| 2010 | +76% | +54% | $175.96 |
| 2020 | +35% | +29% | $135.36 |
Calculate restaurant meals (food away from home) inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1953
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 382.4 | 3.7% | $1.04 |
| 2024 | 368.7 | 4.1% | $1.08 |
| 2023 | 354.3 | 7.1% | $1.12 |
| 2022 | 330.8 | 7.7% | $1.20 |
| 2021 | 307.3 | 4.5% | $1.29 |
| 2020 | 293.9 | 3.4% | $1.35 |
| 2019 | 284.4 | 3.1% | $1.40 |
| 2018 | 275.9 | 2.6% | $1.44 |
| 2017 | 268.8 | 2.3% | $1.48 |
| 2016 | 262.7 | 2.6% | $1.51 |
| 2015 | 256.1 | 2.9% | $1.55 |
| 2014 | 249.0 | 2.4% | $1.60 |
| 2013 | 243.1 | 2.1% | $1.64 |
| 2012 | 238.0 | 2.8% | $1.67 |
| 2011 | 231.4 | 2.3% | $1.72 |
| 2010 | 226.1 | 1.3% | $1.76 |
| 2009 | 223.3 | 3.5% | $1.78 |
| 2008 | 215.8 | 4.4% | $1.84 |
| 2007 | 206.7 | 3.6% | $1.93 |
| 2006 | 199.4 | 3.1% | $2.00 |
| 2005 | 193.4 | 3.1% | $2.06 |
| 2004 | 187.5 | 3.0% | $2.12 |
| 2003 | 182.1 | 2.1% | $2.18 |
| 2002 | 178.3 | 2.5% | $2.23 |
| 2001 | 173.9 | 2.9% | $2.29 |
| 2000 | 169.0 | 2.4% | $2.35 |
| 1999 | 165.1 | 2.5% | $2.41 |
| 1998 | 161.1 | 2.6% | $2.47 |
| 1997 | 157.0 | 2.8% | $2.53 |
| 1996 | 152.7 | 2.5% | $2.61 |
| 1995 | 149.0 | 2.3% | $2.67 |
| 1994 | 145.7 | 1.7% | $2.73 |
| 1993 | 143.2 | 1.8% | $2.78 |
| 1992 | 140.7 | 2.0% | $2.83 |
| 1991 | 137.9 | 3.4% | $2.89 |
| 1990 | 133.4 | 4.7% | $2.98 |
| 1989 | 127.4 | 4.6% | $3.12 |
| 1988 | 121.8 | 4.1% | $3.27 |
| 1987 | 117.0 | 4.0% | $3.40 |
| 1986 | 112.5 | 3.9% | $3.54 |
| 1985 | 108.3 | 3.9% | $3.67 |
| 1984 | 104.2 | 4.2% | $3.82 |
| 1983 | 100.0 | 4.4% | $3.98 |
| 1982 | 95.8 | 5.4% | $4.15 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 9.0% | $4.38 |
| 1980 | 83.4 | 9.9% | $4.77 |
| 1979 | 75.9 | 11.1% | $5.24 |
| 1978 | 68.3 | 9.1% | $5.83 |
| 1977 | 62.6 | 7.6% | $6.36 |
| 1976 | 58.2 | 6.8% | $6.84 |
| 1975 | 54.5 | 9.4% | $7.30 |
| 1974 | 49.8 | 12.7% | $7.99 |
| 1973 | 44.2 | 7.8% | $9.00 |
| 1972 | 41.0 | 4.1% | $9.70 |
| 1971 | 39.4 | 5.1% | $10.10 |
| 1970 | 37.5 | 7.4% | $10.61 |
| 1969 | 34.9 | 6.1% | $11.40 |
| 1968 | 32.9 | 5.1% | $12.09 |
| 1967 | 31.3 | 5.4% | $12.71 |
| 1966 | 29.7 | 4.6% | $13.40 |
| 1965 | 28.4 | 2.2% | $14.01 |
| 1964 | 27.8 | 1.8% | $14.31 |
| 1963 | 27.3 | 2.2% | $14.57 |
| 1962 | 26.7 | 2.7% | $14.90 |
| 1961 | 26.0 | 2.4% | $15.30 |
| 1960 | 25.4 | 2.4% | $15.66 |
| 1959 | 24.8 | 2.9% | $16.04 |
| 1958 | 24.1 | 3.0% | $16.51 |
| 1957 | 23.4 | 3.5% | $17.00 |
| 1956 | 22.6 | 2.3% | $17.60 |
| 1955 | 22.1 | 0.9% | $18.00 |
| 1954 | 21.9 | 1.9% | $18.17 |
| 1953 | 21.5 | $18.51 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SEFV, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- How much have restaurant meals (food away from home) prices gone up since 2000?
- Restaurant meals (food away from home) prices rose 135% from 2000 to August 2026, faster than overall prices (95%).
- What is the inflation rate for restaurant meals (food away from home) right now?
- Restaurant meals (food away from home) prices were 3.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- What did $100 of restaurant meals (food away from home) in 2000 cost in August 2026?
- $235.42.
- Where does this data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for restaurant meals (food away from home) (series CUUR0000SEFV), part of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It tracks price changes for the same kind of item over time, not average prices.