According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for lettuce are 279.92% higher in 2025 versus 1983 (a $4.03 difference in value).
The current national average price is $1.44 for "Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm)". This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
Between 1983 and 2025: Lettuce experienced an average inflation rate of 3.23% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, lettuce costing $1.44 in the year 1983 would cost $5.47 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.82% during this same period, inflation for lettuce was higher.
In the year 1983: Pricing changed by 2.47%, which is below the average yearly change for lettuce during the 1983-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1983 (3.21%), 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 (2025 dollars) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.44 (latest available value) | $1.44 |
| 2024 | $1.59 | $1.55 |
| 2023 | $1.62 | $1.58 |
| 2022 | $1.29 | $1.28 |
| 2021 | $1.29 | $1.45 |
| 2020 | $1.29 | $1.51 |
| 2019 | $1.18 | $1.44 |
| 2018 | $0.94 | $1.27 |
| 2017 | $1.03 | $1.36 |
| 2016 | $1.06 | $1.42 |
| 2015 | $1.16 | $1.45 |
| 2014 | $1.05 | $1.38 |
| 2013 | $1.01 | $1.27 |
| 2012 | $0.86 | $1.18 |
| 2011 | $0.99 | $1.26 |
| 2010 | $0.87 | $1.21 |
| 2009 | $0.91 | $1.24 |
| 2008 | $0.91 | $1.24 |
| 2007 | $0.93 | $1.30 |
| 2006 | $0.87 | $1.28 |
| 2005 | $0.87 | $1.33 |
| 2004 | $0.80 | $1.30 |
| 2003 | $0.82 | $1.31 |
| 2002 | $0.86 | $1.34 |
| 2001 | $0.79 | $1.33 |
| 2000 | $0.74 | $1.27 |
| 1999 | $0.67 | $1.27 |
| 1998 | $0.76 | $1.30 |
| 1997 | $0.69 | $1.36 |
| 1996 | $0.65 | $1.37 |
| 1995 | $0.80 | $1.42 |
| 1994 | $0.61 | $1.40 |
| 1993 | $0.66 | $1.44 |
| 1992 | $0.58 | $1.45 |
| 1991 | $0.60 | $1.48 |
| 1990 | $0.58 | $1.51 |
| 1989 | $0.60 | $1.57 |
| 1988 | $0.63 | $1.66 |
| 1987 | $0.62 | $1.78 |
| 1986 | $0.53 | $1.84 |
| 1985 | $0.54 | $1.99 |
| 1984 | $0.51 | $2.09 |
| 1983 | $0.55 | $2.10 |
| 1982 | $0.57 | $2.23 |
| 1981 | $0.49 | $2.26 |
| 1980 | $0.45 | $2.28 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Lettuce, over time, for $1.44 beginning in 1983. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | $1.44 | 2.47% |
| 1984 | $1.34 | -6.92% |
| 1985 | $1.48 | 10.48% |
| 1986 | $1.57 | 6.13% |
| 1987 | $1.90 | 21.11% |
| 1988 | $2.07 | 8.94% |
| 1989 | $2.11 | 1.92% |
| 1990 | $2.10 | -0.76% |
| 1991 | $2.23 | 6.30% |
| 1992 | $2.17 | -2.56% |
| 1993 | $2.49 | 14.43% |
| 1994 | $2.38 | -4.40% |
| 1995 | $3.09 | 29.84% |
| 1996 | $2.59 | -16.04% |
| 1997 | $2.79 | 7.74% |
| 1998 | $3.20 | 14.50% |
| 1999 | $2.91 | -9.07% |
| 2000 | $3.18 | 9.50% |
| 2001 | $3.26 | 2.51% |
| 2002 | $3.52 | 7.81% |
| 2003 | $3.44 | -2.33% |
| 2004 | $3.35 | -2.61% |
| 2005 | $3.59 | 7.32% |
| 2006 | $3.71 | 3.41% |
| 2007 | $3.91 | 5.31% |
| 2008 | $4.00 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $4.02 | 0.46% |
| 2010 | $3.96 | -1.44% |
| 2011 | $4.28 | 8.16% |
| 2012 | $3.98 | -7.10% |
| 2013 | $4.37 | 9.76% |
| 2014 | $4.16 | -4.66% |
| 2015 | $4.37 | 4.94% |
| 2016 | $4.10 | -6.13% |
| 2017 | $4.14 | 0.85% |
| 2018 | $4.07 | -1.57% |
| 2019 | $4.50 | 10.47% |
| 2020 | $4.68 | 4.10% |
| 2021 | $4.88 | 4.22% |
| 2022 | $5.53 | 13.40% |
| 2023 | $5.60 | 1.29% |
| 2024 | $5.62 | 0.26% |
| 2025 | $5.47 | -2.62%* |
* 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 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 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 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 | 396.498 | 401.616 | 402.645 | 392.109 |