According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tomatoes were 1,055% higher in 2020 versus 1953 (a $211 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2020: Tomatoes experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, tomatoes costing $20 in the year 1953 would cost $231 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% during this same period, inflation for tomatoes was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Tomatoes:
| Year | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| CPI | 30.615 | 29.223 | 30.415 | 32.538 | 32.423 | 35.246 | 32.515 | 34.715 | 31.823 | 32.700 | 35.377 | 36.492 | 37.677 | 38.392 | 38.831 | 44.392 | 46.115 | 46.269 | 51.208 | 51.508 | 52.985 | 60.354 | 63.631 | 63.500 | 74.892 | 72.531 | 80.492 | 81.854 | 94.654 | 93.523 | 100.800 | 105.685 | 103.631 | 111.323 | 116.777 | 123.085 | 136.215 | 160.815 | 153.100 | 171.762 | 168.008 | 173.469 | 188.285 | 198.231 | 213.608 | 239.169 | 224.115 | 234.669 | 249.985 | 250.977 | 271.023 | 296.785 | 298.800 | 323.262 | 306.454 | 332.622 | 303.981 | 323.189 | 339.319 | 302.484 | 318.032 | 325.488 | 329.290 | 334.027 | 324.860 | 335.267 | 329.980 | 353.608 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Tomatoes, over time, for $20 beginning in 1953. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $20.00 | - |
| 1954 | $19.09 | -4.55% |
| 1955 | $19.87 | 4.08% |
| 1956 | $21.26 | 6.98% |
| 1957 | $21.18 | -0.35% |
| 1958 | $23.03 | 8.71% |
| 1959 | $21.24 | -7.75% |
| 1960 | $22.68 | 6.77% |
| 1961 | $20.79 | -8.33% |
| 1962 | $21.36 | 2.76% |
| 1963 | $23.11 | 8.19% |
| 1964 | $23.84 | 3.15% |
| 1965 | $24.61 | 3.25% |
| 1966 | $25.08 | 1.90% |
| 1967 | $25.37 | 1.14% |
| 1968 | $29.00 | 14.32% |
| 1969 | $30.13 | 3.88% |
| 1970 | $30.23 | 0.33% |
| 1971 | $33.45 | 10.67% |
| 1972 | $33.65 | 0.59% |
| 1973 | $34.61 | 2.87% |
| 1974 | $39.43 | 13.91% |
| 1975 | $41.57 | 5.43% |
| 1976 | $41.48 | -0.21% |
| 1977 | $48.92 | 17.94% |
| 1978 | $47.38 | -3.15% |
| 1979 | $52.58 | 10.98% |
| 1980 | $53.47 | 1.69% |
| 1981 | $61.83 | 15.64% |
| 1982 | $61.10 | -1.19% |
| 1983 | $65.85 | 7.78% |
| 1984 | $69.04 | 4.85% |
| 1985 | $67.70 | -1.94% |
| 1986 | $72.72 | 7.42% |
| 1987 | $76.29 | 4.90% |
| 1988 | $80.41 | 5.40% |
| 1989 | $88.98 | 10.67% |
| 1990 | $105.06 | 18.06% |
| 1991 | $100.02 | -4.80% |
| 1992 | $112.21 | 12.19% |
| 1993 | $109.75 | -2.19% |
| 1994 | $113.32 | 3.25% |
| 1995 | $123.00 | 8.54% |
| 1996 | $129.50 | 5.28% |
| 1997 | $139.54 | 7.76% |
| 1998 | $156.24 | 11.97% |
| 1999 | $146.41 | -6.29% |
| 2000 | $153.30 | 4.71% |
| 2001 | $163.31 | 6.53% |
| 2002 | $163.95 | 0.40% |
| 2003 | $177.05 | 7.99% |
| 2004 | $193.88 | 9.51% |
| 2005 | $195.20 | 0.68% |
| 2006 | $211.18 | 8.19% |
| 2007 | $200.20 | -5.20% |
| 2008 | $217.29 | 8.54% |
| 2009 | $198.58 | -8.61% |
| 2010 | $211.13 | 6.32% |
| 2011 | $221.67 | 4.99% |
| 2012 | $197.60 | -10.86% |
| 2013 | $207.76 | 5.14% |
| 2014 | $212.63 | 2.34% |
| 2015 | $215.11 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | $218.21 | 1.44% |
| 2017 | $212.22 | -2.74% |
| 2018 | $219.02 | 3.20% |
| 2019 | $215.57 | -1.58% |
| 2020 | $231.00 | 7.16%* |