Lettuce priced at $1.29 in 2020→$1.72 in 2026

Lettuce Inflation Calculator

Enter a starting cost to estimate an equivalent purchase using the category CPI. This is a hypothetical calculation, not an observed retail price.

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Prices for Lettuce, 2020-2026 ($1.29)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for lettuce are 33.12% higher in 2026 versus 2020 (a $0.43 difference in value).

The latest available average price is $1.471 in August 2026 for Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.

The dollar amounts in this section illustrate the category CPI calculation; they are not a series of observed prices.

Between 2020 and 2026:Lettuce experienced an average inflation rate of 4.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, lettuce costing $1.29 in the year 2020 would cost $1.72 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.22% during this same period, inflation for lettuce was higher.

In the year 2020: Pricing changed by 4.10%, which is below the average yearly change for lettuce during the 2020-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2020 (1.23%), inflation for lettuce was higher.

Price Inflation for Lettuce since 1939

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1978 (36.12%), 1995 (29.83%), and 1942 (24.87%).

Lettuce price history

Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm). U.S. city average. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics average prices, through August 2026.

These observed prices cover the specific product and unit above, which may be narrower than the lettuce CPI category. Local prices vary.

● Average price paid● In 2026 dollars

Annual averages use the available monthly observations; 2026 is a partial year through August 2026. The latest monthly price above may differ from the annual average. Gaps are left blank.

Annual average prices for Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm)
YearAverage price paidIn 2026 dollars
2026 (partial)$1.75$1.75
2025$1.591$1.654
2024$1.592$1.701
2023$1.619$1.78
2022No observation—
2021No observation—
2020$1.295$1.675
2019$1.184$1.552
2018$0.944$1.259
2017$1.029$1.407
2016$1.064$1.484
2015$1.162$1.642
2014$1.053$1.49
2013$1.015$1.459
2012$0.857$1.25
2011$0.989$1.473
2010$0.875$1.344
2009$0.913$1.426
2008$0.905$1.409
2007$0.928$1.50
2006$0.865$1.438
2005$0.87$1.493
2004$0.798$1.415
2003$0.823$1.498
2002$0.861$1.604
2001$0.793$1.50
2000$0.736$1.432
1999$0.674$1.356
1998$0.757$1.555
1997$0.694$1.448
1996$0.648$1.383
1995$0.801$1.761
1994$0.608$1.374
1993$0.656$1.521
1992$0.577$1.377
1991$0.605$1.487
1990$0.578$1.481
1989$0.605$1.634
1988$0.628$1.779
1987$0.618$1.823
1986$0.528$1.614
1985$0.538$1.676
1984$0.513$1.653
1983$0.554$1.863
1982$0.573$1.989
1981$0.487$1.796
1980$0.452$1.838

What did lettuce cost in earlier years?

How are prices adjusted for inflation?

Price in 2026 dollars = observed annual price × (2026 all-items CPI ÷ that year's all-items CPI). This measures overall purchasing power using the U.S. inflation index; the latest CPI year may be incomplete.

Average prices describe price levels. Changes in the products and stores sampled can affect these averages; category CPI controls for such changes and can follow a different path. Read the BLS explanation of average prices versus indexes.


View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.29 since 2020

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Lettuce, over time, for $1.29 beginning in 2020. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2020$1.294.10%
2021$1.344.22%
2022$1.5213.40%
2023$1.541.29%
2024$1.550.26%
2025$1.560.66%
2026$1.7210.19%*

* 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:

Year1939194019411942194319441945194619471948194919501951195219531954195519561957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI11.58311.70812.96716.19218.94216.49217.50016.61719.35019.41723.17519.67522.88321.70821.71721.86723.46723.64225.17525.00026.05025.05824.08327.50028.37529.07529.96732.74232.68332.49236.72535.40040.52540.71749.94250.58349.60056.46756.22576.53379.95877.79284.450100.725103.20896.067106.142112.642136.433148.625151.475150.325159.800155.717178.183170.342221.158185.692200.058229.058208.283228.075233.792252.058246.200239.767257.333266.108280.230286.518287.850283.713306.853285.068312.889298.322313.067293.879296.391291.734322.266335.476349.644396.498401.616402.645405.288446.579

Adjust lettuce prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2020* 2020 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Lettuce was 335.476 in the year 2020 and 446.579 in 2026:

446.579 / 335.476* $1.29 = $1.72

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1.29 in 2020 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.72 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Lettuce).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Lettuce in 1939. In addition to lettuce, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.