According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fruits and vegetables are 3,244.98% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $649 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 4.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $669 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for fruits and vegetables was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by 1.43%, which is below the average yearly change for fruits and vegetables during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for fruits and vegetables was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | 1.43% |
| 1940 | $20.46 | 2.28% |
| 1941 | $21.84 | 6.75% |
| 1942 | $27.69 | 26.82% |
| 1943 | $35.70 | 28.91% |
| 1944 | $35.56 | -0.40% |
| 1945 | $37.44 | 5.30% |
| 1946 | $38.57 | 3.02% |
| 1947 | $42.17 | 9.32% |
| 1948 | $43.39 | 2.90% |
| 1949 | $44.02 | 1.45% |
| 1950 | $42.12 | -4.32% |
| 1951 | $46.09 | 9.43% |
| 1952 | $50.63 | 9.84% |
| 1953 | $48.98 | -3.26% |
| 1954 | $48.30 | -1.38% |
| 1955 | $49.03 | 1.49% |
| 1956 | $51.38 | 4.80% |
| 1957 | $51.22 | -0.31% |
| 1958 | $54.87 | 7.11% |
| 1959 | $54.02 | -1.55% |
| 1960 | $55.40 | 2.56% |
| 1961 | $55.60 | 0.37% |
| 1962 | $56.03 | 0.76% |
| 1963 | $59.28 | 5.80% |
| 1964 | $61.59 | 3.89% |
| 1965 | $61.51 | -0.13% |
| 1966 | $62.78 | 2.07% |
| 1967 | $62.75 | -0.05% |
| 1968 | $67.66 | 7.83% |
| 1969 | $68.52 | 1.28% |
| 1970 | $71.11 | 3.78% |
| 1971 | $74.69 | 5.03% |
| 1972 | $78.46 | 5.04% |
| 1973 | $89.37 | 13.91% |
| 1974 | $104.00 | 16.37% |
| 1975 | $107.27 | 3.14% |
| 1976 | $109.98 | 2.53% |
| 1977 | $120.14 | 9.23% |
| 1978 | $133.56 | 11.17% |
| 1979 | $144.27 | 8.02% |
| 1980 | $154.74 | 7.26% |
| 1981 | $173.33 | 12.01% |
| 1982 | $182.76 | 5.44% |
| 1983 | $183.30 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | $199.09 | 8.62% |
| 1985 | $204.30 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $206.17 | 0.91% |
| 1987 | $224.38 | 8.83% |
| 1988 | $241.38 | 7.58% |
| 1989 | $259.91 | 7.67% |
| 1990 | $280.61 | 7.97% |
| 1991 | $293.52 | 4.60% |
| 1992 | $292.70 | -0.28% |
| 1993 | $299.50 | 2.32% |
| 1994 | $310.85 | 3.79% |
| 1995 | $334.73 | 7.68% |
| 1996 | $346.48 | 3.51% |
| 1997 | $353.19 | 1.93% |
| 1998 | $373.33 | 5.70% |
| 1999 | $382.59 | 2.48% |
| 2000 | $385.49 | 0.76% |
| 2001 | $399.72 | 3.69% |
| 2002 | $416.11 | 4.10% |
| 2003 | $425.57 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | $438.38 | 3.01% |
| 2005 | $454.74 | 3.73% |
| 2006 | $476.47 | 4.78% |
| 2007 | $494.75 | 3.84% |
| 2008 | $525.46 | 6.21% |
| 2009 | $514.18 | -2.15% |
| 2010 | $515.15 | 0.19% |
| 2011 | $536.26 | 4.10% |
| 2012 | $532.80 | -0.64% |
| 2013 | $546.37 | 2.55% |
| 2014 | $554.60 | 1.51% |
| 2015 | $553.55 | -0.19% |
| 2016 | $558.14 | 0.83% |
| 2017 | $557.02 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $560.99 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $566.76 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $574.44 | 1.35% |
| 2021 | $593.05 | 3.24% |
| 2022 | $643.65 | 8.53% |
| 2023 | $659.67 | 2.49% |
| 2024 | $664.61 | 0.75% |
| 2025 | $666.26 | 0.25% |
| 2026 | $669.00 | 0.41%* |
* 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 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 | 11.200 | 11.775 | 12.117 | 10.467 | 10.617 | 10.858 | 11.592 | 14.700 | 18.950 | 18.875 | 19.875 | 20.475 | 22.383 | 23.033 | 23.367 | 22.358 | 24.467 | 26.875 | 26.000 | 25.642 | 26.025 | 27.275 | 27.192 | 29.125 | 28.675 | 29.408 | 29.517 | 29.742 | 31.467 | 32.692 | 32.650 | 33.325 | 33.308 | 35.917 | 36.375 | 37.750 | 39.650 | 41.650 | 47.442 | 55.208 | 56.942 | 58.383 | 63.775 | 70.900 | 76.583 | 82.142 | 92.008 | 97.017 | 97.300 | 105.683 | 108.450 | 109.442 | 119.108 | 128.133 | 137.967 | 148.958 | 155.808 | 155.375 | 158.983 | 165.008 | 177.683 | 183.925 | 187.483 | 198.175 | 203.092 | 204.633 | 212.183 | 220.883 | 225.908 | 232.708 | 241.392 | 252.925 | 262.628 | 278.932 | 272.945 | 273.458 | 284.662 | 282.827 | 290.033 | 294.398 | 293.840 | 296.277 | 295.684 | 297.793 | 300.854 | 304.929 | 314.809 | 341.671 | 350.175 | 352.796 | 353.671 | 355.125 |