According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for lettuce are 346.77% higher in 2022 versus 1981 (a $4.33 difference in value).
The current national average price is $1.25 for "Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
Between 1981 and 2022: Lettuce experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, lettuce costing $1.25 in the year 1981 would cost $5.58 in 2022 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.84% during this same period, inflation for lettuce was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 8.55%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for lettuce during the 1981-2022 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for lettuce was lower.
The average price for Lettuce is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Inflation rate is also calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows average prices and their corresponding "real" prices adjusted for inflation rate. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
Average prices for Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm):
| Year | Average price (Lettuce) | Inflation adjusted price (2022 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1.29 | $1.29 |
| 2019 | $1.18 | $1.23 |
| 2018 | $0.94 | $1.09 |
| 2017 | $1.03 | $1.17 |
| 2016 | $1.06 | $1.21 |
| 2015 | $1.16 | $1.24 |
| 2014 | $1.05 | $1.18 |
| 2013 | $1.01 | $1.09 |
| 2012 | $0.86 | $1.01 |
| 2011 | $0.99 | $1.08 |
| 2010 | $0.87 | $1.03 |
| 2009 | $0.91 | $1.06 |
| 2008 | $0.91 | $1.06 |
| 2007 | $0.93 | $1.11 |
| 2006 | $0.87 | $1.09 |
| 2005 | $0.87 | $1.13 |
| 2004 | $0.80 | $1.12 |
| 2003 | $0.82 | $1.12 |
| 2002 | $0.86 | $1.15 |
| 2001 | $0.79 | $1.14 |
| 2000 | $0.74 | $1.08 |
| 1999 | $0.67 | $1.09 |
| 1998 | $0.76 | $1.11 |
| 1997 | $0.69 | $1.16 |
| 1996 | $0.65 | $1.17 |
| 1995 | $0.80 | $1.22 |
| 1994 | $0.61 | $1.20 |
| 1993 | $0.66 | $1.23 |
| 1992 | $0.58 | $1.24 |
| 1991 | $0.60 | $1.27 |
| 1990 | $0.58 | $1.29 |
| 1989 | $0.60 | $1.34 |
| 1988 | $0.63 | $1.42 |
| 1987 | $0.62 | $1.52 |
| 1986 | $0.53 | $1.57 |
| 1985 | $0.54 | $1.70 |
| 1984 | $0.51 | $1.79 |
| 1983 | $0.55 | $1.80 |
| 1982 | $0.57 | $1.91 |
| 1981 | $0.49 | $1.94 |
| 1980 | $0.45 | $1.95 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Lettuce, over time, for $1.25 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $1.25 | 8.55% |
| 1982 | $1.49 | 19.27% |
| 1983 | $1.53 | 2.47% |
| 1984 | $1.42 | -6.92% |
| 1985 | $1.57 | 10.48% |
| 1986 | $1.67 | 6.13% |
| 1987 | $2.02 | 21.11% |
| 1988 | $2.20 | 8.94% |
| 1989 | $2.24 | 1.92% |
| 1990 | $2.23 | -0.76% |
| 1991 | $2.37 | 6.30% |
| 1992 | $2.30 | -2.56% |
| 1993 | $2.64 | 14.43% |
| 1994 | $2.52 | -4.40% |
| 1995 | $3.27 | 29.84% |
| 1996 | $2.75 | -16.04% |
| 1997 | $2.96 | 7.74% |
| 1998 | $3.39 | 14.50% |
| 1999 | $3.08 | -9.07% |
| 2000 | $3.38 | 9.50% |
| 2001 | $3.46 | 2.51% |
| 2002 | $3.73 | 7.81% |
| 2003 | $3.64 | -2.33% |
| 2004 | $3.55 | -2.61% |
| 2005 | $3.81 | 7.32% |
| 2006 | $3.94 | 3.41% |
| 2007 | $4.15 | 5.31% |
| 2008 | $4.24 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $4.26 | 0.46% |
| 2010 | $4.20 | -1.44% |
| 2011 | $4.54 | 8.16% |
| 2012 | $4.22 | -7.10% |
| 2013 | $4.63 | 9.76% |
| 2014 | $4.42 | -4.66% |
| 2015 | $4.63 | 4.94% |
| 2016 | $4.35 | -6.13% |
| 2017 | $4.39 | 0.85% |
| 2018 | $4.32 | -1.57% |
| 2019 | $4.77 | 10.47% |
| 2020 | $4.97 | 4.10% |
| 2021 | $5.18 | 4.22% |
| 2022 | $5.58 | 7.90%* |
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Lettuce:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 11.585 | 11.708 | 12.969 | 16.192 | 18.946 | 16.492 | 17.500 | 16.615 | 19.346 | 19.415 | 23.177 | 19.677 | 22.885 | 21.708 | 21.715 | 21.869 | 23.469 | 23.638 | 25.177 | 25.000 | 26.046 | 25.062 | 24.085 | 27.500 | 28.377 | 29.077 | 29.969 | 32.746 | 32.685 | 32.492 | 36.723 | 35.400 | 40.523 | 40.715 | 49.938 | 50.585 | 49.600 | 56.469 | 56.223 | 76.531 | 79.962 | 77.792 | 84.446 | 100.723 | 103.208 | 96.069 | 106.138 | 112.646 | 136.431 | 148.623 | 151.477 | 150.323 | 159.800 | 155.715 | 178.185 | 170.338 | 221.162 | 185.692 | 200.062 | 229.062 | 208.285 | 228.077 | 233.792 | 252.062 | 246.200 | 239.769 | 257.331 | 266.108 | 280.230 | 286.518 | 287.850 | 283.713 | 306.853 | 285.068 | 312.889 | 298.322 | 313.067 | 293.879 | 296.391 | 291.734 | 322.266 | 335.477 | 349.644 | 377.277 |