THE GROCERY PRICE INDEX

How much did potatoes cost in 1989?

Potatoes averaged $0.34 per lb in 1989 — about $0.92 in 2026 dollars.

Potatoes price in 1989 Monthly average price (USD per lb) · 1989
$0.28$0.30$0.32$0.34$0.36$0.38$0.40JanMarMayJulAugOctDecJan 1989$0.29Jul 1989$0.39Dec 1989$0.31basketreport.com

12 monthly observations · Source: BLS series APU0000712112.

In 1989, potatoes averaged $0.34 per lb at the U.S. city average, across all twelve months, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data. The monthly price ranged from $0.29 in January to $0.39 in July. Over the year it rose from $0.29 in January to $0.31 in December, a 6.5% increase.

Adjusted for inflation, $0.34 in 1989 is worth about $0.92 in 2026 dollars. Today potatoes averages $0.89 per lb, so in real terms it is 3% cheaper than it was in 1989. In plain (unadjusted) dollars the price is up 163% versus the 1989 average.

1989 monthly prices

MonthPriceMoM
January $0.29 ▼ 0.3%
February $0.31 ▲ 6.1%
March $0.34 ▲ 7.4%
April $0.36 ▲ 7.5%
May $0.37 ▲ 2.2%
June $0.37 ▲ 1.6%
July $0.39 ▲ 4.8%
August $0.39 ▼ 0.3%
September $0.34 ▼ 12.8%
October $0.31 ▼ 8.2%
November $0.31 ▼ 1.9%
December $0.31 ▲ 1.9%
1989 average$0.34

FAQ

What was the average price of potatoes in 1989?

Potatoes averaged $0.34 per lb in 1989, based on 12 months of BLS average price data.

How much is $0.34 of 1989 potatoes worth today?

Adjusted for inflation with the CPI-U, $0.34 in 1989 is about $0.92 in 2026 dollars.

How does the 1989 price of potatoes compare to now?

Potatoes now averages $0.89 per lb, up 163% from the 1989 average of $0.34.

Cite this

Plain text
Basket Report. "Potatoes price in 1989 (U.S. average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved June 26, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/1989/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712112.
HTML
<a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/1989/">Potatoes price in 1989 (U.S. average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712112; retrieved June 26, 2026)
APA
Basket Report. (2026). Potatoes price in 1989 (U.S. average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/potatoes/1989/