Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Fruits and vegetables spending

U.S. households spent $953/yr on fruits and vegetables in 2024 - 1.2% of the average budget . Down 3.5% vs 2023 ; the top income quintile outspends the bottom by 2.5×. Figures from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

2024 avg
$953
Budget share
1.2%
vs 2023
-3.5%

CES spend plate

Line FRUITS-AND-VEGETAB · Fruits and vegetables $953 · 1.2%

SHARE-TRACE · QUINT-MOD · YOY-DOWN · REAL-CUT · REGION-WEST · BOOK-MID

  • SHARE-TRACE 1.2% of budget
  • QUINT-MOD 2.5× Q5/Q1
  • YOY-DOWN -3.5% YoY
  • REAL-CUT Nominal drop
  • REGION-WEST West leads
  • BOOK-MID #46/99 dollars

Nearest dollar peer: Cereals and bakery products ($-174)

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 Fruits and 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 · Fruits and 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)

Fruits and vegetables spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

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

$900$950$1,000$1,050$1,100$1,150 20202021202220232024 $953
Year Annual Amount
2024 $953
2023 $988
2022 $1,099
2021 $1,033
2020 $977

Subcategories

Fresh fruits · $394 (41%) Fresh vegetables · $355 (37%) Processed fruits and vegetables · $203 (21%)

How the $953 fruits and vegetables total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).

Subcategory Annual Amount (2024)
Fresh fruits $394
Fresh vegetables $355
Processed fruits and vegetables $203

Income stretch · mid-book fruits and vegetables

Mid-book CES line: income still stretches 2.5× from $579 (bottom quintile) to $1,445 (top).

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $579
Second 20% $774
Middle 20% $879
Fourth 20% $1,084
Highest 20% $1,445

See full income breakdown →

West leads fruits and vegetables geographically

West leads at $1,187/yr.

Region Annual Amount
Midwest $842
Northeast $1,107
South $809
West $1,187

See full regional breakdown →

Lifecycle peak · 45–54

45–54 heads spend the most on this line at $1,183/yr.

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $867
35–44 $1,115
45–54 $1,183
55–64 $912
65–74 $884
75 and older $781
Under 25 $625

See full age breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions (show 6)
How much does the average household spend on fruits and vegetables?
The average American household spent $953 on fruits and vegetables in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 1.2% of total household spending.
Is fruits and vegetables spending increasing?
Fruits and vegetables spending decreased by 3.5% from 2023 to 2024 ($988 to $953). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by -2.5%.
How does income affect fruits and vegetables spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $579/year on fruits and vegetables, while the highest quintile spends $1,445/year, a 2.5x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on fruits and vegetables?
The West region spends the most at $1,187/year, while the South region spends the least at $809/year on fruits and vegetables.
Which age group spends the most on fruits and vegetables?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on fruits and vegetables at $1,183/year.
Does household size affect fruits and vegetables spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $513/year on fruits and vegetables, while 5 or More households spend $1,520/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.

Nationwide peers near fruits and 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 ($953 here).

Category 2024 avg
Audio and visual equipment and services $965
Fees and admissions $935
Personal care products and services $978
Maintenance and repairs $984
Pets $880
Housekeeping supplies $877
Pets, toys, hobbies, and playground equipment $1,069
Water and other public services $826

Similar budget share

Nearest other categories by share of the household budget (1.2% here).

Category Budget share
Audio and visual equipment and services 1.2%
Fees and admissions 1.2%
Personal care products and services 1.2%
Housekeeping supplies 1.1%
Pets 1.1%
Water and other public services 1.1%
Maintenance and repairs 1.3%
Cereals and bakery products 1.0%

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.