Tomatoes, field grown
U.S. city average · May 2026January 1980 – May 2026 · 551 monthly observations · BLS series APU0000712311.
As of May 2026, tomatoes cost $2.49 per lb at the U.S. city average — down 7.4% from the prior month and up 46.0% over the past year. This is the average shelf price reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, not an estimate.
That sits 7% below the record high of $2.69 set in April 2026, and 353% above the record low of $0.55 in September 1982. BLS has published this price monthly since January 1980 (551 observations).
FAQ
How much do tomatoes cost right now?
As of May 2026, tomatoes averaged $2.49 per lb across U.S. cities, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.
Are tomatoes getting more expensive?
Tomatoes are ▼ 7.4% versus the prior month and ▲ 46.0% versus a year ago (May 2026).
What is the highest price tomatoes have reached?
The record high is $2.69 per lb, set in April 2026; the record low is $0.55 in September 1982.
Where does this tomatoes price data come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data program, retrieved via the BLS Public Data API. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.