Lettuce prices are 474.07% higher in 2026 versus 1980 (a $2.13 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $1.47 in August 2026 for Lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.
Between 1980 and 2026, Lettuce experienced an average inflation rate of 3.87% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, lettuce costing $0.45 in the year 1980 would cost $2.58 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.07% during this same period, inflation for lettuce was higher.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by -2.71%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for lettuce during the 1980-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for lettuce was much lower.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of lettuce rose 225%, from $0.45 per pound in 1980 to $1.47 in August 2026. Overall prices rose 307% over the same period, so lettuce rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
The average price for lettuce is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of lettuce, iceberg, per lb. (453.6 gm) each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
| Year | Price (per pound) | Price, inflation-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $1.75 | $1.75 |
| 2025 | $1.59 | $1.65 |
| 2024 | $1.59 | $1.70 |
| 2023 | $1.62 | $1.78 |
| 2022 | No data | — |
| 2021 | No data | — |
| 2020 | $1.29 | $1.68 |
| 2019 | $1.18 | $1.55 |
| 2018 | $0.94 | $1.26 |
| 2017 | $1.03 | $1.41 |
| 2016 | $1.06 | $1.48 |
| 2015 | $1.16 | $1.64 |
| 2014 | $1.05 | $1.49 |
| 2013 | $1.01 | $1.46 |
| 2012 | $0.86 | $1.25 |
| 2011 | $0.99 | $1.47 |
| 2010 | $0.87 | $1.34 |
| 2009 | $0.91 | $1.43 |
| 2008 | $0.91 | $1.41 |
| 2007 | $0.93 | $1.50 |
| 2006 | $0.87 | $1.44 |
| 2005 | $0.87 | $1.49 |
| 2004 | $0.80 | $1.41 |
| 2003 | $0.82 | $1.50 |
| 2002 | $0.86 | $1.60 |
| 2001 | $0.79 | $1.50 |
| 2000 | $0.74 | $1.43 |
| 1999 | $0.67 | $1.36 |
| 1998 | $0.76 | $1.56 |
| 1997 | $0.69 | $1.45 |
| 1996 | $0.65 | $1.38 |
| 1995 | $0.80 | $1.76 |
| 1994 | $0.61 | $1.37 |
| 1993 | $0.66 | $1.52 |
| 1992 | $0.58 | $1.38 |
| 1991 | $0.60 | $1.49 |
| 1990 | $0.58 | $1.48 |
| 1989 | $0.60 | $1.63 |
| 1988 | $0.63 | $1.78 |
| 1987 | $0.62 | $1.82 |
| 1986 | $0.53 | $1.61 |
| 1985 | $0.54 | $1.68 |
| 1984 | $0.51 | $1.65 |
| 1983 | $0.55 | $1.86 |
| 1982 | $0.57 | $1.99 |
| 1981 | $0.49 | $1.80 |
| 1980 | $0.45 | $1.84 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through August. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Lettuce, over time, for $0.45 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $0.45 | -2.71% |
| 1981 | $0.49 | 8.56% |
| 1982 | $0.58 | 19.27% |
| 1983 | $0.60 | 2.47% |
| 1984 | $0.56 | -6.92% |
| 1985 | $0.61 | 10.49% |
| 1986 | $0.65 | 6.12% |
| 1987 | $0.79 | 21.12% |
| 1988 | $0.86 | 8.94% |
| 1989 | $0.88 | 1.92% |
| 1990 | $0.87 | -0.76% |
| 1991 | $0.92 | 6.30% |
| 1992 | $0.90 | -2.56% |
| 1993 | $1.03 | 14.43% |
| 1994 | $0.99 | -4.40% |
| 1995 | $1.28 | 29.83% |
| 1996 | $1.07 | -16.04% |
| 1997 | $1.16 | 7.74% |
| 1998 | $1.33 | 14.50% |
| 1999 | $1.20 | -9.07% |
| 2000 | $1.32 | 9.50% |
| 2001 | $1.35 | 2.51% |
| 2002 | $1.46 | 7.81% |
| 2003 | $1.42 | -2.32% |
| 2004 | $1.39 | -2.61% |
| 2005 | $1.49 | 7.33% |
| 2006 | $1.54 | 3.41% |
| 2007 | $1.62 | 5.31% |
| 2008 | $1.66 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $1.67 | 0.46% |
| 2010 | $1.64 | -1.44% |
| 2011 | $1.78 | 8.16% |
| 2012 | $1.65 | -7.10% |
| 2013 | $1.81 | 9.76% |
| 2014 | $1.73 | -4.66% |
| 2015 | $1.81 | 4.94% |
| 2016 | $1.70 | -6.13% |
| 2017 | $1.71 | 0.85% |
| 2018 | $1.69 | -1.57% |
| 2019 | $1.86 | 10.47% |
| 2020 | $1.94 | 4.10% |
| 2021 | $2.02 | 4.22% |
| 2022 | $2.29 | 13.40% |
| 2023 | $2.32 | 1.29% |
| 2024 | $2.33 | 0.26% |
| 2025 | $2.34 | 0.66% |
| 2026 | $2.58 | 10.19%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 11.583 | 11.708 | 12.967 | 16.192 | 18.942 | 16.492 | 17.500 | 16.617 | 19.350 | 19.417 | 23.175 | 19.675 | 22.883 | 21.708 | 21.717 | 21.867 | 23.467 | 23.642 | 25.175 | 25.000 | 26.050 | 25.058 | 24.083 | 27.500 | 28.375 | 29.075 | 29.967 | 32.742 | 32.683 | 32.492 | 36.725 | 35.400 | 40.525 | 40.717 | 49.942 | 50.583 | 49.600 | 56.467 | 56.225 | 76.533 | 79.958 | 77.792 | 84.450 | 100.725 | 103.208 | 96.067 | 106.142 | 112.642 | 136.433 | 148.625 | 151.475 | 150.325 | 159.800 | 155.717 | 178.183 | 170.342 | 221.158 | 185.692 | 200.058 | 229.058 | 208.283 | 228.075 | 233.792 | 252.058 | 246.200 | 239.767 | 257.333 | 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 | 335.476 | 349.644 | 396.498 | 401.616 | 402.645 | 405.288 | 446.579 |