For a snapshot of how much groceries cost in 1926, this ad for Piggly Wiggly appeared in the Washington Times on April 22, 1926.

The prices look low, but there’s been a lot of inflation since then. According to this online inflation calculator, one dollar in 1926 was the equivalent of $17.65 in 2024. So ten pounds of potatoes for 69 cents sounds like a bargain, but that works out to over $12 in today’s money. And the chuck roast for a quarter a pound sounds cheap, but it works out to $4.41 per pound.

What would you make for dinner if you were shopping in 1926?