Fresh vegetables Spending

How much American households spend on fresh vegetables — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey

Annual average (2024)
$355
Share of total spending
0.5%
Change vs 2023
-12.3%
Change vs 2020
+14.1%

Spending Insight: Fresh vegetables

American households spent an average of $355 on fresh vegetables in 2024, representing 0.5% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 12.3% from 2023 ($405), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.

Since 2020, fresh vegetables spending has risen by 14.1% (from $311 to $355), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.

Income is the strongest predictor of fresh vegetables spending: the top income quintile spends $532/year versus $231 for the lowest quintile — a 2.3x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($459/year) while the South spends the least ($291/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Year Annual Amount
2024 $355
2023 $405
2022 $352
2021 $328
2020 $311

By Income Level (2024)

How fresh vegetables spending varies across income quintiles

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

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in fresh vegetables spending

Midwest
$298
0.4%
Northeast
$432
0.5%
South
$291
0.4%
West
$459
0.5%

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How fresh vegetables spending changes across the lifecycle

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 →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $191
2 People $425
3 People $377
4 People $419
5 or More $481

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $386
Homeowner (no mortgage) $413
Renter $342

Frequently Asked Questions

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 $481/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Spending Guides

Average Household Budget
How the typical American household allocates spending
Housing Costs by Income
How shelter spending varies across income quintiles
Food Spending Breakdown
Groceries vs dining out and who spends what
Healthcare Spending by Age
How medical costs rise across the lifecycle
Transportation Costs
Vehicle ownership, fuel, and transit spending

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Category
Food
$10,169/yr avg
Category
Alcoholic beverages
$643/yr avg
Category
Housing
$26,266/yr avg
Category
Apparel and services
$2,001/yr avg
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Transportation
$13,318/yr avg

Related Economic Data

Cost of Living by Metro → Fair Market Rents → Salary Data by Occupation → ZIP Code Demographics →
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.