Banana prices are 82.35% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $0.35 difference in value).
The latest available average price is $0.655 in October 2026 for Bananas, per lb. (453.6 gm). See observed price history.
Between 1988 and 2026, Bananas experienced an average inflation rate of 1.59% per year. In other words, bananas costing $0.42 in the year 1988 would cost $0.77 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.76% during this same period, inflation for bananas was lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 14.46%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for bananas during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for bananas was much higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of bananas rose 57%, from $0.418 per pound in 1988 to $0.655 in October 2026. Overall prices rose 185% over the same period, so bananas rose more slowly than inflation. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region.
● Price● Price, inflation-adjusted
The average price for bananas is calculated from a weighted average of retailer data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The table below shows the average U.S. price of bananas, per lb. (453.6 gm) each year, along with the same price adjusted for inflation. To understand how price levels differ from inflation rates, see this article published by the BLS.
| Year | Price (per pound) | Price, inflation-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (partial) | $0.652 | $0.652 |
| 2025 | $0.647 | $0.678 |
| 2024 | $0.620 | $0.668 |
| 2023 | $0.630 | $0.698 |
| 2022 | $0.637 | $0.734 |
| 2021 | $0.600 | $0.747 |
| 2020 | $0.578 | $0.754 |
| 2019 | $0.574 | $0.757 |
| 2018 | $0.574 | $0.771 |
| 2017 | $0.563 | $0.775 |
| 2016 | $0.573 | $0.806 |
| 2015 | $0.583 | $0.830 |
| 2014 | $0.598 | $0.853 |
| 2013 | $0.600 | $0.869 |
| 2012 | $0.602 | $0.885 |
| 2011 | $0.610 | $0.916 |
| 2010 | $0.580 | $0.897 |
| 2009 | $0.611 | $0.961 |
| 2008 | $0.609 | $0.955 |
| 2007 | $0.510 | $0.830 |
| 2006 | $0.500 | $0.838 |
| 2005 | $0.492 | $0.851 |
| 2004 | $0.495 | $0.885 |
| 2003 | $0.509 | $0.933 |
| 2002 | $0.508 | $0.952 |
| 2001 | $0.507 | $0.966 |
| 2000 | $0.501 | $0.982 |
| 1999 | $0.491 | $0.994 |
| 1998 | $0.494 | $1.023 |
| 1997 | $0.487 | $1.023 |
| 1996 | $0.490 | $1.053 |
| 1995 | $0.490 | $1.084 |
| 1994 | $0.462 | $1.053 |
| 1993 | $0.439 | $1.025 |
| 1992 | $0.458 | $1.102 |
| 1991 | $0.481 | $1.192 |
| 1990 | $0.463 | $1.196 |
| 1989 | $0.449 | $1.221 |
| 1988 | $0.418 | $1.193 |
| 1987 | $0.365 | $1.084 |
| 1986 | $0.385 | $1.185 |
| 1985 | $0.367 | $1.151 |
| 1984 | $0.359 | $1.168 |
| 1983 | $0.386 | $1.307 |
| 1982 | $0.354 | $1.238 |
| 1981 | $0.362 | $1.344 |
| 1980 | $0.342 | $1.400 |
Yearly averages; 2026 is through October. Inflation-adjusted to 2026 dollars.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Bananas, over time, for $0.42 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $0.42 | 14.46% |
| 1989 | $0.46 | 10.11% |
| 1990 | $0.49 | 5.24% |
| 1991 | $0.51 | 4.96% |
| 1992 | $0.49 | -3.51% |
| 1993 | $0.48 | -3.15% |
| 1994 | $0.51 | 5.93% |
| 1995 | $0.54 | 7.10% |
| 1996 | $0.56 | 3.41% |
| 1997 | $0.56 | 0.35% |
| 1998 | $0.57 | 0.80% |
| 1999 | $0.56 | -0.89% |
| 2000 | $0.57 | 1.93% |
| 2001 | $0.59 | 2.54% |
| 2002 | $0.59 | -0.06% |
| 2003 | $0.58 | -1.01% |
| 2004 | $0.57 | -1.12% |
| 2005 | $0.59 | 2.50% |
| 2006 | $0.62 | 4.93% |
| 2007 | $0.63 | 1.28% |
| 2008 | $0.73 | 16.82% |
| 2009 | $0.73 | -0.07% |
| 2010 | $0.69 | -5.70% |
| 2011 | $0.73 | 5.33% |
| 2012 | $0.72 | -0.39% |
| 2013 | $0.72 | -0.82% |
| 2014 | $0.71 | -0.65% |
| 2015 | $0.71 | -0.62% |
| 2016 | $0.70 | -0.96% |
| 2017 | $0.69 | -1.85% |
| 2018 | $0.69 | 0.79% |
| 2019 | $0.69 | -0.37% |
| 2020 | $0.68 | -1.37% |
| 2021 | $0.69 | 1.22% |
| 2022 | $0.73 | 5.41% |
| 2023 | $0.74 | 1.42% |
| 2024 | $0.73 | -0.73% |
| 2025 | $0.76 | 3.45% |
| 2026 | $0.77 | 1.23%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Bananas:
| Year | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 14.525 | 15.017 | 16.850 | 24.500 | 28.833 | 28.283 | 26.333 | 27.908 | 36.325 | 38.325 | 39.958 | 39.100 | 39.292 | 39.342 | 39.725 | 39.800 | 40.125 | 39.892 | 41.150 | 41.042 | 40.367 | 37.683 | 37.700 | 38.825 | 39.100 | 39.717 | 38.917 | 38.050 | 38.408 | 38.000 | 38.933 | 38.983 | 36.717 | 39.075 | 40.808 | 45.833 | 57.408 | 58.167 | 63.233 | 70.700 | 79.842 | 91.533 | 97.658 | 96.083 | 105.992 | 97.925 | 99.950 | 105.017 | 104.175 | 119.242 | 131.292 | 138.167 | 145.017 | 139.933 | 135.525 | 143.567 | 153.767 | 159.017 | 159.575 | 160.850 | 159.417 | 162.492 | 166.617 | 166.525 | 164.842 | 162.992 | 167.058 | 175.292 | 177.538 | 207.394 | 207.256 | 195.442 | 205.850 | 205.052 | 203.370 | 202.041 | 200.786 | 198.852 | 195.168 | 196.709 | 195.983 | 193.307 | 195.656 | 206.248 | 209.174 | 207.643 | 214.798 | 217.442 |