According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fruits and vegetables are 508.26% higher in 2026 versus 1976 (a $101.65 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2026:Fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.68% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1976 would cost $121.65 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for fruits and vegetables was higher.
In the year 1976: Pricing changed by 2.53%, which is below the average yearly change for fruits and vegetables during the 1976-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1976 (5.74%), inflation for fruits and vegetables was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $20.00 | 2.53% |
| 1977 | $21.85 | 9.23% |
| 1978 | $24.29 | 11.17% |
| 1979 | $26.23 | 8.02% |
| 1980 | $28.14 | 7.26% |
| 1981 | $31.52 | 12.01% |
| 1982 | $33.23 | 5.44% |
| 1983 | $33.33 | 0.29% |
| 1984 | $36.20 | 8.62% |
| 1985 | $37.15 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $37.49 | 0.91% |
| 1987 | $40.80 | 8.83% |
| 1988 | $43.89 | 7.58% |
| 1989 | $47.26 | 7.67% |
| 1990 | $51.03 | 7.97% |
| 1991 | $53.37 | 4.60% |
| 1992 | $53.23 | -0.28% |
| 1993 | $54.46 | 2.32% |
| 1994 | $56.53 | 3.79% |
| 1995 | $60.87 | 7.68% |
| 1996 | $63.01 | 3.51% |
| 1997 | $64.22 | 1.93% |
| 1998 | $67.89 | 5.70% |
| 1999 | $69.57 | 2.48% |
| 2000 | $70.10 | 0.76% |
| 2001 | $72.69 | 3.69% |
| 2002 | $75.67 | 4.10% |
| 2003 | $77.39 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | $79.72 | 3.01% |
| 2005 | $82.69 | 3.73% |
| 2006 | $86.64 | 4.78% |
| 2007 | $89.97 | 3.84% |
| 2008 | $95.55 | 6.21% |
| 2009 | $93.50 | -2.15% |
| 2010 | $93.68 | 0.19% |
| 2011 | $97.51 | 4.10% |
| 2012 | $96.89 | -0.64% |
| 2013 | $99.35 | 2.55% |
| 2014 | $100.85 | 1.51% |
| 2015 | $100.66 | -0.19% |
| 2016 | $101.49 | 0.83% |
| 2017 | $101.29 | -0.20% |
| 2018 | $102.01 | 0.71% |
| 2019 | $103.06 | 1.03% |
| 2020 | $104.46 | 1.35% |
| 2021 | $107.84 | 3.24% |
| 2022 | $117.04 | 8.53% |
| 2023 | $119.96 | 2.49% |
| 2024 | $120.85 | 0.75% |
| 2025 | $121.15 | 0.25% |
| 2026 | $121.65 | 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 |