Lettuce, iceberg
Lettuce prices
U.S. city average · September 2026
Lettuce averaged $1.64 per pound in September 2026; up 11.2% from last month; down 5.5% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Chart shown: January 1980 – September 2026 · Full series: January 1980 – September 2026 (517 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000712211.
Recent lettuce price history
| Month | Price | Vs. prior month | Vs. year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $1.64 | ▲ 11.2% | ▼ 5.5% |
| August 2026 | $1.47 | ▼ 16.1% | ▼ 12.1% |
| July 2026 | $1.75 | ▼ 12.9% | ▲ 11.0% |
| June 2026 | $2.01 | ▲ 2.4% | ▲ 46.0% |
| May 2026 | $1.96 | ▲ 20.6% | ▲ 36.6% |
| April 2026 | $1.63 | ▼ 5.2% | ▲ 7.5% |
| March 2026 | $1.72 | — | ▲ 17.3% |
| January 2026 | $1.70 | — | ▲ 5.0% |
| November 2025 | $1.99 | — | ▲ 21.1% |
| September 2025 | $1.73 | ▲ 3.5% | ▲ 20.6% |
| August 2025 | $1.67 | ▲ 6.0% | ▲ 10.3% |
| July 2025 | $1.58 | ▲ 14.6% | ▼ 3.9% |
| June 2025 | $1.38 | ▼ 4.2% | ▼ 20.9% |
| May 2025 | $1.44 | ▼ 5.1% | ▼ 15.0% |
| April 2025 | $1.52 | ▲ 3.4% | ▼ 13.6% |
| March 2025 | $1.47 | ▼ 3.7% | ▼ 12.8% |
| February 2025 | $1.52 | ▼ 5.9% | ▲ 5.5% |
| January 2025 | $1.62 | ▼ 5.1% | ▲ 12.4% |
Lettuce prices rose 11.2% from August to September 2026. Lettuce prices are 5.5% lower than a year ago. Prices remain below the June 2026 peak of $2.01 but well above the 1980 level of $0.35.
Why do produce prices change so much? →
From lettuce to the full grocery basket
Lettuce added $0.16 to September’s basket change.
What drives the price of lettuce
Lettuce prices can be volatile because the crop is delicate and supply is geographically concentrated. Most U.S. lettuce comes from California and Arizona, with production migrating between them by season, so a heat wave, freeze, or crop disease in those areas can tighten supply and lift prices within weeks. Lettuce essentially cannot be stored, so the shelf price responds almost immediately to growing conditions.
BLS series APU0000712211 tracks the average retail price of lettuce, iceberg at the U.S. city average, measured per pound and reported monthly back to 1980.
Background: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service — Vegetables and Pulses. Price data: BLS series APU0000712211.
Lettuce price FAQ
How much does a pound of lettuce cost right now?
As of September 2026, lettuce averaged $1.64 per pound at the national U.S. city average, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.
Are lettuce prices going down in 2026?
The latest 2026 BLS reading shows lettuce prices up 11.2% versus the prior month and down 5.5% versus a year ago (September 2026).
What is the highest price lettuce has reached?
The record high is $2.01 per pound, set in June 2026; the record low is $0.35 in January 1980.
Where does this lettuce 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.
How much did lettuce cost in 2001?
In 2001, lettuce averaged $0.74 per pound at the U.S. city average — versus $1.64 today (September 2026), about 122% higher now.
Cite this
Basket Report. "Average lettuce price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved October 14, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/lettuce/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712211. <a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/lettuce/">Average lettuce price (U.S. city average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000712211; retrieved October 14, 2026) Basket Report. (2026). Average lettuce price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/lettuce/