Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024
Fruits and vegetables Spending
How much American households spend on fruits and vegetables - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
- Annual average (2024)
- $953
- Share of spending
- 1.2%
- Change vs 2023
- -3.5%
- Change vs 2020
- -2.5%
Spending Insight: Fruits and vegetables
American households spent an average of $953 on fruits and vegetables in 2024, representing 1.2% of total consumer expenditures. Spending declined 3.5% from 2023 ($988), indicating households may be cutting back or finding lower-cost alternatives.
Since 2020, fruits and vegetables spending has fallen by 2.5% (from $977 to $953), a drop even in nominal dollars, suggesting efficiency gains or shifting consumer preferences. The category breaks into 3 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic, drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is strongly associated with fruits and vegetables spending: the top income quintile spends $1,445/year versus $579 for the lowest quintile, a 2.5x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($1,187/year) while the South spends the least ($809/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)
Fruits and vegetables spending per household, 2020–2024
National average annual spending
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $953 |
| 2023 | $988 |
| 2022 | $1,099 |
| 2021 | $1,033 |
| 2020 | $977 |
How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.
Subcategories
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 |
By Income Level (2024)
How fruits and vegetables spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $579 |
| Second 20% | $774 |
| Middle 20% | $879 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,084 |
| Highest 20% | $1,445 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in fruits and vegetables spending
By Age Group (2024)
How fruits and vegetables spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $513 |
| 2 People | $1,141 |
| 3 People | $960 |
| 4 People | $1,121 |
| 5 or More | $1,359 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $1,047 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $1,132 |
| Renter | $911 |
What to do with this data
The average U.S. household spends $953 a year on fruits and vegetables - here's how to put that in context.
- Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
- See how fruits and vegetables spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
- Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories
Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on fruits and vegetables? ▼
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Spending Guides (show related guides)
Related Spending Categories
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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.
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