According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are 428.18% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $85.64 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Fresh fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.60% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $105.64 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.56%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fresh fruits and vegetables during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 7.56% |
| 1980 | $21.50 | 7.50% |
| 1981 | $24.08 | 11.99% |
| 1982 | $25.42 | 5.56% |
| 1983 | $25.34 | -0.32% |
| 1984 | $28.11 | 10.94% |
| 1985 | $28.84 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $29.72 | 3.02% |
| 1987 | $33.33 | 12.15% |
| 1988 | $35.78 | 7.36% |
| 1989 | $38.82 | 8.52% |
| 1990 | $42.32 | 8.99% |
| 1991 | $45.77 | 8.15% |
| 1992 | $44.96 | -1.77% |
| 1993 | $46.94 | 4.41% |
| 1994 | $49.08 | 4.56% |
| 1995 | $54.15 | 10.32% |
| 1996 | $55.68 | 2.83% |
| 1997 | $56.63 | 1.71% |
| 1998 | $60.79 | 7.33% |
| 1999 | $62.35 | 2.57% |
| 2000 | $62.77 | 0.68% |
| 2001 | $65.17 | 3.81% |
| 2002 | $67.92 | 4.23% |
| 2003 | $69.73 | 2.66% |
| 2004 | $72.20 | 3.54% |
| 2005 | $74.99 | 3.87% |
| 2006 | $78.97 | 5.31% |
| 2007 | $82.04 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $86.30 | 5.19% |
| 2009 | $82.19 | -4.76% |
| 2010 | $82.76 | 0.70% |
| 2011 | $86.45 | 4.47% |
| 2012 | $84.72 | -2.01% |
| 2013 | $87.48 | 3.26% |
| 2014 | $89.17 | 1.93% |
| 2015 | $88.76 | -0.45% |
| 2016 | $89.82 | 1.19% |
| 2017 | $90.00 | 0.20% |
| 2018 | $90.97 | 1.08% |
| 2019 | $91.88 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $92.61 | 0.79% |
| 2021 | $95.71 | 3.34% |
| 2022 | $102.87 | 7.49% |
| 2023 | $103.65 | 0.76% |
| 2024 | $104.37 | 0.69% |
| 2025 | $104.61 | 0.23% |
| 2026 | $105.64 | 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 |