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Retail Food Prices, 1913,1914, 1924, 1925, 1976, 2002

Prices per pound except for eggs (per dozen) and milk (per quart)

Sirloin Steak Round Steak Chuck Steak Pork Chops Bacon Ham Eggs Milk Bread Flour Potatoes Sugar Coffee
1914 $0.259 $0.167 $0.167 $0.22 $0.275 $0.273 $0.353 $0.089 $0.063 $0.034 $0.18 $0.59 $0.297
1924 $0.396 $0.338 $0.208 $0.308 $0.377 $0.453 $0.478 $0.138 $0.088 $0.049 $0.027 $0.092 $0.433
1976 $2.29 $1.79 $1.09 $1.69 $1.59 $1.49 $0.75 $0.60 $0.35 $0.22 $na $0.24 $1.60
2002 $3.48 $2.48 $2.69 $3.59 $2.39 $2.09 $0.89 $1.49 $1.49 $0.27 $0.89 $0.438 $2.66

Prices for 1914 and 1924 came from The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book, 1926. Prices for 1976 and 2002 were collected at Kroger, Starkville, Mississippi.

Chicago Food Prices from Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics

Article 1913 1924 1925 Article 1913 1924 1925
Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents
Sirloin Steak, pound 24.3 41.5 46.4 Cornmeal, pound 2.8 5.7 6.4
Round Steak, pound 21.4 33.0 36.7 Rolled oats, pound -- 8.4 8.6
Rib Roast, pound 20.3 31.6 34.5 Corn flakes, 8 oz pkg -- 9.6 10.1
Chuck roast, pound 15.9 21.1 24.6 Wheat cereal, 28-oz pkg -- 23.5 24.4
Plate beef, pound 11.9 12.8 14.2 Macaroni, pound -- 17.9 19.7
Pork chops, pound 21.8 34.1 40.6 Rice, pound 9.0 10.8 11.5
Bacon, sliced, pound 32.6 43.1 52.0 Beans, navy, pound -- 9.9 9.9
Ham. sliced, pound 32.2 48.3 53.7 Potatoes, pound 1.8 2.6 3.3
Lamb, leg of, pound 19.9 36.3 38.8 Onions, pound -- 6.1 6.3
Hens, pound 19.2 34.7 36.9 Cabbage, pound -- 3.8 4.9
Salmon, can, red, pound -- 32.5 36.0 Beans, baked, No. 2 can -- 12.7 12.7
Milk, quart 8.0 14.0 14.0 Corn, No. 2 can -- 15.9 18.0
Milk, evap, 15-16 oz can -- 10.6 10.8 Peas, No. 2 can -- 17.9 17.9
Butter, pound 35.3 45.4 53.4 Tomatoes, No. 2 can -- 14.3 147
Margarine, pound -- 26.6 29.0 Sugar, pound 5.2 8.26.3
Cheese, pound 25.7 39.2 40.3 Tea, pound 55.0 72.8 74.8
Lard, pound 15.0 19.8 23.8 Coffee, pound 30.7 45.7 52.2
Eggs, dozen 30.4 50.8 47.7 Prunes, pound -- 18.8 18.1
Bread, pound 6.1 9.9 9.9 Raisins, pound -- 16.2 15.3
Flour, pound 2.9 4.7 5.6 Bananas, dozen -- 54.1 67.6
Oranges, dozen 54.1 67.6

SOURCE: The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book, 1926., p. 711.

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