According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for fresh fruits and vegetables are 4,104.29% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $820.86 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2026: Fresh fruits and vegetables experienced an average inflation rate of 4.19% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, fresh fruits and vegetables costing $20 in the year 1935 would cost $840.86 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for fresh fruits and vegetables was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Fresh fruits and vegetables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | $20.00 | - |
| 1936 | $21.52 | 7.59% |
| 1937 | $21.97 | 2.11% |
| 1938 | $18.71 | -14.84% |
| 1939 | $19.30 | 3.17% |
| 1940 | $19.74 | 2.26% |
| 1941 | $21.10 | 6.89% |
| 1942 | $26.89 | 27.44% |
| 1943 | $36.06 | 34.11% |
| 1944 | $35.92 | -0.39% |
| 1945 | $38.12 | 6.12% |
| 1946 | $38.66 | 1.42% |
| 1947 | $40.84 | 5.64% |
| 1948 | $43.02 | 5.34% |
| 1949 | $44.34 | 3.08% |
| 1950 | $41.81 | -5.70% |
| 1951 | $45.27 | 8.26% |
| 1952 | $52.68 | 16.37% |
| 1953 | $49.61 | -5.83% |
| 1954 | $48.70 | -1.83% |
| 1955 | $49.63 | 1.90% |
| 1956 | $52.48 | 5.76% |
| 1957 | $52.89 | 0.76% |
| 1958 | $56.65 | 7.12% |
| 1959 | $54.00 | -4.68% |
| 1960 | $57.33 | 6.17% |
| 1961 | $56.41 | -1.61% |
| 1962 | $57.89 | 2.63% |
| 1963 | $61.39 | 6.05% |
| 1964 | $64.97 | 5.82% |
| 1965 | $66.35 | 2.12% |
| 1966 | $67.53 | 1.79% |
| 1967 | $67.71 | 0.26% |
| 1968 | $74.12 | 9.48% |
| 1969 | $75.26 | 1.53% |
| 1970 | $78.74 | 4.63% |
| 1971 | $81.97 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $86.73 | 5.81% |
| 1973 | $102.20 | 17.83% |
| 1974 | $110.17 | 7.80% |
| 1975 | $112.54 | 2.15% |
| 1976 | $115.34 | 2.49% |
| 1977 | $131.00 | 13.58% |
| 1978 | $148.00 | 12.98% |
| 1979 | $159.20 | 7.56% |
| 1980 | $171.14 | 7.50% |
| 1981 | $191.67 | 11.99% |
| 1982 | $202.32 | 5.56% |
| 1983 | $201.67 | -0.32% |
| 1984 | $223.73 | 10.94% |
| 1985 | $229.59 | 2.62% |
| 1986 | $236.53 | 3.02% |
| 1987 | $265.27 | 12.15% |
| 1988 | $284.78 | 7.36% |
| 1989 | $309.03 | 8.52% |
| 1990 | $336.83 | 8.99% |
| 1991 | $364.29 | 8.15% |
| 1992 | $357.86 | -1.77% |
| 1993 | $373.65 | 4.41% |
| 1994 | $390.69 | 4.56% |
| 1995 | $431.00 | 10.32% |
| 1996 | $443.21 | 2.83% |
| 1997 | $450.79 | 1.71% |
| 1998 | $483.85 | 7.33% |
| 1999 | $496.30 | 2.57% |
| 2000 | $499.67 | 0.68% |
| 2001 | $518.71 | 3.81% |
| 2002 | $540.63 | 4.23% |
| 2003 | $555.03 | 2.66% |
| 2004 | $574.70 | 3.54% |
| 2005 | $596.93 | 3.87% |
| 2006 | $628.61 | 5.31% |
| 2007 | $653.05 | 3.89% |
| 2008 | $686.93 | 5.19% |
| 2009 | $654.20 | -4.76% |
| 2010 | $658.76 | 0.70% |
| 2011 | $688.17 | 4.47% |
| 2012 | $674.35 | -2.01% |
| 2013 | $696.32 | 3.26% |
| 2014 | $709.75 | 1.93% |
| 2015 | $706.54 | -0.45% |
| 2016 | $714.98 | 1.19% |
| 2017 | $716.38 | 0.20% |
| 2018 | $724.13 | 1.08% |
| 2019 | $731.37 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $737.16 | 0.79% |
| 2021 | $761.82 | 3.34% |
| 2022 | $818.85 | 7.49% |
| 2023 | $825.04 | 0.76% |
| 2024 | $830.77 | 0.69% |
| 2025 | $832.65 | 0.23% |
| 2026 | $840.86 | 0.99%* |
* 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 Fresh 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 | 9.558 | 10.283 | 10.500 | 8.942 | 9.225 | 9.433 | 10.083 | 12.850 | 17.233 | 17.167 | 18.217 | 18.475 | 19.517 | 20.558 | 21.192 | 19.983 | 21.633 | 25.175 | 23.708 | 23.275 | 23.717 | 25.083 | 25.275 | 27.075 | 25.808 | 27.400 | 26.958 | 27.667 | 29.342 | 31.050 | 31.708 | 32.275 | 32.358 | 35.425 | 35.967 | 37.633 | 39.175 | 41.450 | 48.842 | 52.650 | 53.783 | 55.125 | 62.608 | 70.733 | 76.083 | 81.792 | 91.600 | 96.692 | 96.383 | 106.925 | 109.725 | 113.042 | 126.775 | 136.100 | 147.692 | 160.975 | 174.100 | 171.025 | 178.575 | 186.717 | 205.983 | 211.817 | 215.442 | 231.242 | 237.192 | 238.800 | 247.900 | 258.375 | 265.258 | 274.658 | 285.283 | 300.425 | 312.105 | 328.297 | 312.654 | 314.830 | 328.888 | 322.283 | 332.785 | 339.202 | 337.668 | 341.699 | 342.371 | 346.073 | 349.534 | 352.302 | 364.085 | 391.342 | 394.300 | 397.040 | 397.939 | 401.860 |