According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh fruits and vegetables were 1,697.42% higher in 2020 versus 1947 (a $339.48 difference in value).
Between 1947 and 2020: Fresh fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 4.04% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1947 would cost $359.48 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.41% during this same period, inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Fresh fruits and vegetables:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 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 |
| CPI | 19.542 | 20.558 | 21.192 | 19.967 | 21.667 | 25.175 | 23.683 | 23.292 | 23.683 | 25.025 | 25.258 | 27.042 | 25.842 | 27.408 | 26.933 | 27.683 | 29.333 | 31.075 | 31.650 | 32.300 | 32.383 | 35.442 | 35.992 | 37.625 | 39.167 | 41.542 | 48.800 | 52.633 | 53.808 | 55.183 | 62.592 | 70.683 | 76.117 | 81.892 | 91.700 | 96.650 | 96.425 | 106.958 | 109.692 | 112.725 | 126.808 | 136.200 | 147.892 | 160.942 | 173.867 | 170.967 | 178.300 | 186.733 | 205.933 | 211.608 | 215.400 | 231.275 | 237.250 | 238.792 | 247.867 | 258.342 | 265.292 | 274.583 | 285.300 | 300.542 | 312.180 | 328.422 | 312.657 | 314.820 | 328.825 | 322.157 | 332.725 | 339.186 | 337.613 | 341.650 | 342.421 | 346.106 | 349.562 | 351.246 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1947. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $20.00 | - |
| 1948 | $21.04 | 5.20% |
| 1949 | $21.69 | 3.08% |
| 1950 | $20.43 | -5.78% |
| 1951 | $22.17 | 8.51% |
| 1952 | $25.77 | 16.19% |
| 1953 | $24.24 | -5.93% |
| 1954 | $23.84 | -1.65% |
| 1955 | $24.24 | 1.68% |
| 1956 | $25.61 | 5.67% |
| 1957 | $25.85 | 0.93% |
| 1958 | $27.68 | 7.06% |
| 1959 | $26.45 | -4.44% |
| 1960 | $28.05 | 6.06% |
| 1961 | $27.57 | -1.73% |
| 1962 | $28.33 | 2.78% |
| 1963 | $30.02 | 5.96% |
| 1964 | $31.80 | 5.94% |
| 1965 | $32.39 | 1.85% |
| 1966 | $33.06 | 2.05% |
| 1967 | $33.14 | 0.26% |
| 1968 | $36.27 | 9.44% |
| 1969 | $36.84 | 1.55% |
| 1970 | $38.51 | 4.54% |
| 1971 | $40.09 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $42.52 | 6.06% |
| 1973 | $49.94 | 17.47% |
| 1974 | $53.87 | 7.86% |
| 1975 | $55.07 | 2.23% |
| 1976 | $56.48 | 2.56% |
| 1977 | $64.06 | 13.42% |
| 1978 | $72.34 | 12.93% |
| 1979 | $77.90 | 7.69% |
| 1980 | $83.81 | 7.59% |
| 1981 | $93.85 | 11.98% |
| 1982 | $98.92 | 5.40% |
| 1983 | $98.69 | -0.23% |
| 1984 | $109.47 | 10.92% |
| 1985 | $112.26 | 2.56% |
| 1986 | $115.37 | 2.77% |
| 1987 | $129.78 | 12.49% |
| 1988 | $139.39 | 7.41% |
| 1989 | $151.36 | 8.58% |
| 1990 | $164.72 | 8.82% |
| 1991 | $177.94 | 8.03% |
| 1992 | $174.98 | -1.67% |
| 1993 | $182.48 | 4.29% |
| 1994 | $191.11 | 4.73% |
| 1995 | $210.76 | 10.28% |
| 1996 | $216.57 | 2.76% |
| 1997 | $220.45 | 1.79% |
| 1998 | $236.70 | 7.37% |
| 1999 | $242.81 | 2.58% |
| 2000 | $244.39 | 0.65% |
| 2001 | $253.68 | 3.80% |
| 2002 | $264.40 | 4.23% |
| 2003 | $271.51 | 2.69% |
| 2004 | $281.02 | 3.50% |
| 2005 | $291.99 | 3.90% |
| 2006 | $307.59 | 5.34% |
| 2007 | $319.50 | 3.87% |
| 2008 | $336.12 | 5.20% |
| 2009 | $319.99 | -4.80% |
| 2010 | $322.20 | 0.69% |
| 2011 | $336.54 | 4.45% |
| 2012 | $329.71 | -2.03% |
| 2013 | $340.53 | 3.28% |
| 2014 | $347.14 | 1.94% |
| 2015 | $345.53 | -0.46% |
| 2016 | $349.66 | 1.20% |
| 2017 | $350.45 | 0.23% |
| 2018 | $354.22 | 1.08% |
| 2019 | $357.76 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $359.48 | 0.48%* |