Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Fresh vegetables spending

U.S. households spent $355/yr on fresh vegetables in 2024 - 0.5% of the average budget . Down 12.3% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 2.3×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$355
Budget share
0.5%
vs 2023
-12.3%

CES spend plate

Line FRESH-VEGETABLES · Fresh vegetables $355 · 0.5%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-MOD · YOY-DROP · REAL-INLINE · REGION-WEST · BOOK-LOWER

  • SHARE-TRACE 0.5% of budget
  • QUINT-MOD 2.3× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-DROP -12.3% YoY
  • REAL-INLINE Near CPI
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-LOWER #74/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Fresh fruits (+$39)

Instrument codes from this line’s budget share, income-quintile gap, YoY move, real change vs ~21% CPI-U (2020-2024), regional lead, and corpus book size, not a budgeting recommendation.

Spend neighbourhood around Fresh vegetables

Lowest and highest poles plus nearest dollar peers among sibling lines, not a full-board reprint. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Dollar neighbourhood · Fresh vegetables

Average annual spending · 2024 · poles + near peers

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

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Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Fresh vegetables spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$300$350$400$450 20202021202220232024 $355
Year Annual Amount
2024 $355
2023 $405
2022 $352
2021 $328
2020 $311

Income stretch on a smaller fresh vegetables line

A smaller CES line: even the top quintile is $532/yr, with the bottom at $231 (2.3× gap).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $231
Second 20% $283
Middle 20% $330
Fourth 20% $398
Highest 20% $532

See full income breakdown →

West leads fresh vegetables geographically

West leads at $459/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $298
Northeast $432
South $291
West $459

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $449/yr - the lifecycle peak on a smaller book line.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $322
35–44 $395
45–54 $449
55–64 $345
65–74 $346
75 and older $283
Under 25 $227

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on fresh vegetables?
The average American household spent $355 on fresh vegetables in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 0.5% of total household spending.
Is fresh vegetables spending increasing?
Fresh vegetables spending decreased by 12.3% from 2023 to 2024 ($405 to $355). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +14.1%.
How does income affect fresh vegetables spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $231/year on fresh vegetables, while the highest quintile spends $532/year, a 2.3x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on fresh vegetables?
The West region spends the most at $459/year, while the South region spends the least at $291/year on fresh vegetables.
Which age group spends the most on fresh vegetables?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on fresh vegetables at $449/year.
Does household size affect fresh vegetables spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $191/year on fresh vegetables, while 5 or More households spend $531/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Other smaller CES lines near fresh vegetables

Dollar-amount and budget-share neighbours from BLS CE 2024 (this category excluded).

Similar dollar amount

Nearest other categories by 2024 average annual spending ($355 here).

Category 2024 avg
Tobacco products and smoking supplies $352
Men, 16 and over $374
Major appliances $385
Fresh fruits $394
Beef $408
Vehicle finance charges $418
Poultry $267
Pork $260

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (0.5% here).

Category Budget share
Beef 0.5%
Fresh fruits 0.5%
Major appliances 0.5%
Men, 16 and over 0.5%
Vehicle finance charges 0.5%
Footwear 0.6%
Men and boys 0.6%
Natural gas 0.6%

Average household budget · Methodology · BLS CEX source

Informational only - not advice. See disclaimer.

Every figure on PlainHousehold is rendered directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.