According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fruits and vegetables are 2,315.82% higher in 2026 versus 1942 (a $463.16 difference in value).
Between 1942 and 2026:Fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.86% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1942 would cost $483.16 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for fruits and vegetables was higher.
In the year 1942: Pricing changed by 26.82%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for fruits and vegetables during the 1942-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1942 (10.92%), inflation for fruits and vegetables was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1942. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | $20.00 | 26.82% |
| 1943 | $25.78 | 28.91% |
| 1944 | $25.68 | -0.40% |
| 1945 | $27.04 | 5.30% |
| 1946 | $27.86 | 3.02% |
| 1947 | $30.45 | 9.32% |
| 1948 | $31.34 | 2.90% |
| 1949 | $31.79 | 1.45% |
| 1950 | $30.42 | -4.32% |
| 1951 | $33.29 | 9.43% |
| 1952 | $36.56 | 9.84% |
| 1953 | $35.37 | -3.26% |
| 1954 | $34.89 | -1.38% |
| 1955 | $35.41 | 1.49% |
| 1956 | $37.11 | 4.80% |
| 1957 | $37.00 | -0.31% |
| 1958 | $39.63 | 7.11% |
| 1959 | $39.01 | -1.55% |
| 1960 | $40.01 | 2.56% |
| 1961 | $40.16 | 0.37% |
| 1962 | $40.46 | 0.76% |
| 1963 | $42.81 | 5.80% |
| 1964 | $44.48 | 3.89% |
| 1965 | $44.42 | -0.13% |
| 1966 | $45.34 | 2.07% |
| 1967 | $45.32 | -0.05% |
| 1968 | $48.87 | 7.83% |
| 1969 | $49.49 | 1.28% |
| 1970 | $51.36 | 3.78% |
| 1971 | $53.95 | 5.03% |
| 1972 | $56.67 | 5.04% |
| 1973 | $64.55 | 13.91% |
| 1974 | $75.11 | 16.37% |
| 1975 | $77.47 | 3.14% |
| 1976 | $79.43 | 2.53% |
| 1977 | $86.77 | 9.23% |
| 1978 | $96.46 | 11.17% |
| 1979 | $104.20 | 8.02% |
| 1980 | $111.76 | 7.26% |
| 1981 | $125.18 | 12.01% |
| 1982 | $132.00 | 5.44% |
| 1983 | $132.38 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | $143.79 | 8.62% |
| 1985 | $147.55 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $148.90 | 0.91% |
| 1987 | $162.05 | 8.83% |
| 1988 | $174.33 | 7.58% |
| 1989 | $187.71 | 7.67% |
| 1990 | $202.66 | 7.97% |
| 1991 | $211.98 | 4.60% |
| 1992 | $211.39 | -0.28% |
| 1993 | $216.30 | 2.32% |
| 1994 | $224.50 | 3.79% |
| 1995 | $241.75 | 7.68% |
| 1996 | $250.24 | 3.51% |
| 1997 | $255.08 | 1.93% |
| 1998 | $269.63 | 5.70% |
| 1999 | $276.32 | 2.48% |
| 2000 | $278.41 | 0.76% |
| 2001 | $288.68 | 3.69% |
| 2002 | $300.52 | 4.10% |
| 2003 | $307.36 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | $316.61 | 3.01% |
| 2005 | $328.42 | 3.73% |
| 2006 | $344.12 | 4.78% |
| 2007 | $357.32 | 3.84% |
| 2008 | $379.50 | 6.21% |
| 2009 | $371.35 | -2.15% |
| 2010 | $372.05 | 0.19% |
| 2011 | $387.30 | 4.10% |
| 2012 | $384.80 | -0.64% |
| 2013 | $394.60 | 2.55% |
| 2014 | $400.54 | 1.51% |
| 2015 | $399.78 | -0.19% |
| 2016 | $403.10 | 0.83% |
| 2017 | $402.29 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $405.16 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $409.32 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $414.87 | 1.35% |
| 2021 | $428.31 | 3.24% |
| 2022 | $464.86 | 8.53% |
| 2023 | $476.43 | 2.49% |
| 2024 | $479.99 | 0.75% |
| 2025 | $481.18 | 0.25% |
| 2026 | $483.16 | 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 |