According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fruits and vegetables are 1,781.46% higher in 2026 versus 1944 (a $356.29 difference in value).
Between 1944 and 2026:Fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.64% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1944 would cost $376.29 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 1944: Pricing changed by -0.40%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for fruits and vegetables during the 1944-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1944 (1.64%), inflation for fruits and vegetables was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1944. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1944 | $20.00 | -0.40% |
| 1945 | $21.06 | 5.30% |
| 1946 | $21.70 | 3.02% |
| 1947 | $23.72 | 9.32% |
| 1948 | $24.41 | 2.90% |
| 1949 | $24.76 | 1.45% |
| 1950 | $23.69 | -4.32% |
| 1951 | $25.92 | 9.43% |
| 1952 | $28.48 | 9.84% |
| 1953 | $27.55 | -3.26% |
| 1954 | $27.17 | -1.38% |
| 1955 | $27.58 | 1.49% |
| 1956 | $28.90 | 4.80% |
| 1957 | $28.81 | -0.31% |
| 1958 | $30.86 | 7.11% |
| 1959 | $30.38 | -1.55% |
| 1960 | $31.16 | 2.56% |
| 1961 | $31.28 | 0.37% |
| 1962 | $31.51 | 0.76% |
| 1963 | $33.34 | 5.80% |
| 1964 | $34.64 | 3.89% |
| 1965 | $34.60 | -0.13% |
| 1966 | $35.31 | 2.07% |
| 1967 | $35.29 | -0.05% |
| 1968 | $38.06 | 7.83% |
| 1969 | $38.54 | 1.28% |
| 1970 | $40.00 | 3.78% |
| 1971 | $42.01 | 5.03% |
| 1972 | $44.13 | 5.04% |
| 1973 | $50.27 | 13.91% |
| 1974 | $58.50 | 16.37% |
| 1975 | $60.34 | 3.14% |
| 1976 | $61.86 | 2.53% |
| 1977 | $67.58 | 9.23% |
| 1978 | $75.13 | 11.17% |
| 1979 | $81.15 | 8.02% |
| 1980 | $87.04 | 7.26% |
| 1981 | $97.49 | 12.01% |
| 1982 | $102.80 | 5.44% |
| 1983 | $103.10 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | $111.98 | 8.62% |
| 1985 | $114.91 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $115.96 | 0.91% |
| 1987 | $126.21 | 8.83% |
| 1988 | $135.77 | 7.58% |
| 1989 | $146.19 | 7.67% |
| 1990 | $157.84 | 7.97% |
| 1991 | $165.09 | 4.60% |
| 1992 | $164.64 | -0.28% |
| 1993 | $168.46 | 2.32% |
| 1994 | $174.84 | 3.79% |
| 1995 | $188.27 | 7.68% |
| 1996 | $194.89 | 3.51% |
| 1997 | $198.66 | 1.93% |
| 1998 | $209.99 | 5.70% |
| 1999 | $215.20 | 2.48% |
| 2000 | $216.83 | 0.76% |
| 2001 | $224.83 | 3.69% |
| 2002 | $234.05 | 4.10% |
| 2003 | $239.37 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | $246.58 | 3.01% |
| 2005 | $255.78 | 3.73% |
| 2006 | $268.00 | 4.78% |
| 2007 | $278.28 | 3.84% |
| 2008 | $295.56 | 6.21% |
| 2009 | $289.21 | -2.15% |
| 2010 | $289.76 | 0.19% |
| 2011 | $301.63 | 4.10% |
| 2012 | $299.68 | -0.64% |
| 2013 | $307.32 | 2.55% |
| 2014 | $311.94 | 1.51% |
| 2015 | $311.35 | -0.19% |
| 2016 | $313.94 | 0.83% |
| 2017 | $313.31 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $315.54 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $318.79 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $323.10 | 1.35% |
| 2021 | $333.57 | 3.24% |
| 2022 | $362.04 | 8.53% |
| 2023 | $371.05 | 2.49% |
| 2024 | $373.82 | 0.75% |
| 2025 | $374.75 | 0.25% |
| 2026 | $376.29 | 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 |