Annual percent changes in the CPI for food and beverages and in the CPI research series for food and beverages, 1978-98 CPI research CPI series 1978 11.6 11 1979 10 9.5 1980 10.1 9.5 1981 4.3 3.8 1982 3.2 2.7 1983 2.7 2.1 1984 3.8 3.2 1985 2.8 2.3 1986 3.7 3.3 1987 3.5 3 1988 5.1 4.5 1989 5.5 5 1990 5.3 4.6 1991 2.5 2 1992 1.6 1.2 1993 2.7 2.1 1994 2.7 2.1 1995 2.1 1.9 1996 4.2 3.8 1997 1.6 1.5 1998 2.3 1.9