Fresh produce inflation soars in April 2026 Consumer Price Index

Fresh fruit and vegetable inflation rose again in April to 6.5 percent year-over-year, more than double the annual food inflation of 3.2 percent and higher than all items at 3.8 percent.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index released today showed the highest overall inflation in three years, as rising fuel prices affect the entire economy since the start of the Iran war.

Fresh fruit and vegetable inflation rose 2.1 percent from March to April 2026, much higher than the monthly food increase of 0.5 percent.

Fresh fruit rose just 2.1 percent year-over-year. By category, apples rose 3.1 percent annually, bananas rose 4.0 percent, and citrus rose 6.5 percent. The “other fresh fruit” category showed zero year-over-year inflation.

Fresh vegetables rose 11.5 percent annually in April and 3.1 percent from March to April. By category, potatoes fell 3.0 percent annually, lettuce rose 7.9 percent, and tomatoes soared 39.7 percent. Other fresh vegetables rose 9.1 percent.

In other food categories, meat rose 8.8 percent annually, led by beef and veal at 14.8 percent higher than a year ago. Dairy fell 0.6 percent annually, and coffee rose 18.5 percent.

BLS released the following from its monthly Consumer Price Index report on May 12, 2026:

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX – APRIL 2026

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in April, after rising 0.9 percent in March, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.8 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for energy rose 3.8 percent in April, accounting for over forty percent of the monthly all items increase. The shelter index also increased in April, rising 0.6 percent. The index for food increased 0.5 percent over the month as the index for food at home rose 0.7 percent and the index for food away from home increased 0.2 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.4 percent in April. Indexes that increased over the month include household furnishings and operations, airline fares, personal care, apparel, and education. Conversely, the indexes for new vehicles, communication, and medical care were among the major indexes that decreased in April.

The all items index rose 3.8 percent for the 12 months ending April, after rising 3.3 percent for the 12 months ending March. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.8 percent over the year, following a 2.6 percent increase over the 12 months ending March. The energy index increased 17.9 percent for the 12 months ending April. The food index increased 3.2 percent over the last year.

Food

The index for food rose 0.5 percent in April after being unchanged in March. The food at home index increased 0.7 percent over the month. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in April. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs increased 1.3 percent over the month as the index for beef rose 2.7 percent. The fruits and vegetables index increased 1.8 percent in April and the nonalcoholic beverages index rose 1.1 percent.

The index for dairy and related products increased 0.8 percent over the month and the index for cereals and bakery products rose 0.1 percent in April.

In contrast, the index for other food at home fell 0.4 percent in April after being unchanged in March. The food away from home index rose 0.2 percent in April. The index for limited service meals rose 0.4 percent over the month and the index for full service meals rose 0.1 percent.

The index for food at home rose 2.9 percent over the 12 months ending in April. The fruits and vegetables index rose 6.1 percent over the last 12 months. The index for other food at home increased 2.5 percent over the same period and the index for nonalcoholic beverages rose 5.1 percent. The cereals and bakery products index increased 2.6 percent over the 12 months ending in April and the meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index rose 1.5 percent over the same period. In contrast, the index for dairy and related products fell 0.6 percent over the year.

The food away from home index rose 3.6 percent over the last year. The index for full service meals rose 3.8 percent and the index for limited service meals rose 3.2 percent over the same period.