According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are 1,854.73% higher in 2026 versus 1948 (a $370.95 difference in value).
Between 1948 and 2026:Fresh fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1948 would cost $390.95 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.39% during this same period, inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was higher.
In the year 1948: Pricing changed by 5.34%, which is above the average yearly change for fresh fruits and vegetables during the 1948-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1948 (7.69%), inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1948. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | $20.00 | 5.34% |
| 1949 | $20.62 | 3.08% |
| 1950 | $19.44 | -5.70% |
| 1951 | $21.05 | 8.26% |
| 1952 | $24.49 | 16.37% |
| 1953 | $23.06 | -5.83% |
| 1954 | $22.64 | -1.83% |
| 1955 | $23.07 | 1.90% |
| 1956 | $24.40 | 5.76% |
| 1957 | $24.59 | 0.76% |
| 1958 | $26.34 | 7.12% |
| 1959 | $25.11 | -4.68% |
| 1960 | $26.66 | 6.17% |
| 1961 | $26.23 | -1.61% |
| 1962 | $26.92 | 2.63% |
| 1963 | $28.54 | 6.05% |
| 1964 | $30.21 | 5.82% |
| 1965 | $30.85 | 2.12% |
| 1966 | $31.40 | 1.79% |
| 1967 | $31.48 | 0.26% |
| 1968 | $34.46 | 9.48% |
| 1969 | $34.99 | 1.53% |
| 1970 | $36.61 | 4.63% |
| 1971 | $38.11 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $40.32 | 5.81% |
| 1973 | $47.52 | 17.83% |
| 1974 | $51.22 | 7.80% |
| 1975 | $52.32 | 2.15% |
| 1976 | $53.63 | 2.49% |
| 1977 | $60.91 | 13.58% |
| 1978 | $68.81 | 12.98% |
| 1979 | $74.02 | 7.56% |
| 1980 | $79.57 | 7.50% |
| 1981 | $89.11 | 11.99% |
| 1982 | $94.07 | 5.56% |
| 1983 | $93.77 | -0.32% |
| 1984 | $104.02 | 10.94% |
| 1985 | $106.75 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $109.97 | 3.02% |
| 1987 | $123.33 | 12.15% |
| 1988 | $132.40 | 7.36% |
| 1989 | $143.68 | 8.52% |
| 1990 | $156.60 | 8.99% |
| 1991 | $169.37 | 8.15% |
| 1992 | $166.38 | -1.77% |
| 1993 | $173.73 | 4.41% |
| 1994 | $181.65 | 4.56% |
| 1995 | $200.39 | 10.32% |
| 1996 | $206.06 | 2.83% |
| 1997 | $209.59 | 1.71% |
| 1998 | $224.96 | 7.33% |
| 1999 | $230.75 | 2.57% |
| 2000 | $232.31 | 0.68% |
| 2001 | $241.17 | 3.81% |
| 2002 | $251.36 | 4.23% |
| 2003 | $258.05 | 2.66% |
| 2004 | $267.20 | 3.54% |
| 2005 | $277.54 | 3.87% |
| 2006 | $292.27 | 5.31% |
| 2007 | $303.63 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $319.38 | 5.19% |
| 2009 | $304.16 | -4.76% |
| 2010 | $306.28 | 0.70% |
| 2011 | $319.96 | 4.47% |
| 2012 | $313.53 | -2.01% |
| 2013 | $323.75 | 3.26% |
| 2014 | $329.99 | 1.93% |
| 2015 | $328.50 | -0.45% |
| 2016 | $332.42 | 1.19% |
| 2017 | $333.07 | 0.20% |
| 2018 | $336.67 | 1.08% |
| 2019 | $340.04 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $342.73 | 0.79% |
| 2021 | $354.20 | 3.34% |
| 2022 | $380.71 | 7.49% |
| 2023 | $383.59 | 0.76% |
| 2024 | $386.26 | 0.69% |
| 2025 | $387.13 | 0.23% |
| 2026 | $390.95 | 0.99%* |
* 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 Fresh fruits and vegetables:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 9.558 | 10.283 | 10.500 | 8.942 | 9.225 | 9.433 | 10.083 | 12.850 | 17.233 | 17.167 | 18.217 | 18.475 | 19.517 | 20.558 | 21.192 | 19.983 | 21.633 | 25.175 | 23.708 | 23.275 | 23.717 | 25.083 | 25.275 | 27.075 | 25.808 | 27.400 | 26.958 | 27.667 | 29.342 | 31.050 | 31.708 | 32.275 | 32.358 | 35.425 | 35.967 | 37.633 | 39.175 | 41.450 | 48.842 | 52.650 | 53.783 | 55.125 | 62.608 | 70.733 | 76.083 | 81.792 | 91.600 | 96.692 | 96.383 | 106.925 | 109.725 | 113.042 | 126.775 | 136.100 | 147.692 | 160.975 | 174.100 | 171.025 | 178.575 | 186.717 | 205.983 | 211.817 | 215.442 | 231.242 | 237.192 | 238.800 | 247.900 | 258.375 | 265.258 | 274.658 | 285.283 | 300.425 | 312.105 | 328.297 | 312.654 | 314.830 | 328.888 | 322.283 | 332.785 | 339.202 | 337.668 | 341.699 | 342.371 | 346.073 | 349.534 | 352.302 | 364.085 | 391.342 | 394.300 | 397.040 | 397.939 | 401.860 |