Math > Money

Retail Prices of Selected Foods in U.S. Cities, 1890–1970

(in cents per unit indicated)

YearFlour
(5 lbs)		Bread
(lb)		Round
steak
(lb)		Bacon
(lb)		Butter
(lb)		Eggs
(doz.)		Milk
(1/2 gal.)		Oranges
(doz.)		Potatoes
(10 lbs)		Coffee
(lb)		Sugar
(5 lbs)
197058.9¢24.3¢130.2¢94.9¢86.6¢61.4¢65.9¢86.4¢89.7¢91.1¢64.8¢
196558.120.9108.481.375.452.752.677.893.783.359.0
196055.420.3105.565.574.957.352.074.871.875.358.2
195553.817.790.365.970.960.646.252.856.493.052.1
195049.114.393.663.772.960.441.249.346.179.448.7
194532.18.840.641.150.758.131.248.549.330.533.4
194021.58.036.427.336.033.125.629.123.921.226.0
193525.38.336.041.336.037.623.422.019.125.728.2
193023.08.642.642.546.444.528.257.136.039.530.5
192530.59.336.247.155.255.427.857.136.050.435.0
192040.511.539.552.370.168.133.463.263.047.097.0
191521.07.023.026.935.834.117.6n.a.15.030.033.0
191018.0n.a.17.425.535.933.716.8n.a.17.0n.a.30.0
190516.0n.a.14.018.129.027.214.4n.a.17.0n.a.30.0
190012.5n.a.13.214.326.120.713.6n.a.14.0n.a.30.5
189512.0n.a.12.313.024.920.613.6n.a.14.0n.a.26.5
189014.5n.a.12.312.525.520.813.6n.a.16.0n.a.34.5
NOTE: n.a. = not available.
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970, Bicentennial Edition, Part 2.

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