Grocery store receipt from 1997 reveals just how cheap American life used to be: ‘Makes me sick to my stomach’

NY Post ^ | 1/10/26 | Andrew Court

[Libloather]

A grocery store receipt from 1997 shows just how much prices of everyday items have skyrocketed in less than three decades.

TikTok user Zoe Dippel shared the shockingly low costs in a viral video after a family member found the proof of purchase in a box of mementos.

“$155 for all of this!” one of Dippel’s relatives remarked after holding up the lengthy receipt from Texas chain H-E-B dated June 20, 1997.

“That’s a lot of stuff,” Dipple declared, as she started to sort through the 122 items and read the prices out loud.

The receipt revealed that Little Debbie brownies cost $1.09, Dannon yogurt was just 50 cents, and a loaf of bread was rung up for $1.26.

Meanwhile, Gerber baby food jars were 55 cents each, while a jumbo pack of Pampers diapers cost $12.99.

Today, a jar of the same baby food is $1.57, while Pampers diapers are $29.97.

The receipt additionally shows that a one-pound carton of strawberries was $1.89. Today at H-E-B, they cost $3.97.

According to the official US Census website, the median household income in 1997 was $37,005. In 2024, that number had risen to $83,730 — a little over double.

In comparison, the cost of many grocery store items has more than tripled, showing that incomes aren’t keeping pace with prices.

Dippel’s video quickly clocked up more than 2 million views, before she shared a second clip in which she tried to purchase the same 122 items online from H-E-B.

---

TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Food
KEYWORDS: 1997; grocery; receipt; store

[Libloather]

My generic beer used to be $1.50 a six-pack in 1982. That's all I know.

[FlingWingFlyer]

O’Bonzo and Pedo Jo Bidenskyymalarky really stuck it to us.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

1997 was a very expensive year. I prefer the old prices at Frank's in Boston...

[George from New England]

Hell, in just five years.

[SaveFerris]

(and a loaf of bread was rung up for $1.26.)

A loaf 🍞 of Walmart Roundtop White Bread 🍞 was 88 cents
BEFORE Democrat Joe Biden was installed

I bought it all of the time

Even 94 cents for a while afterwards

Then it hit $1.34 by the end of his Residency

That’s the current price

[C210N]

This is indicative of why the DOW at $50,000 is a mirage, as it makes us falsely believe we’re fine if our 401k has grown in stocks, so no matter groceries are thru the roof.

Always keep in mind that the inherent value of one dollar is zero (0). While, the inherent value of one ounce of gold (or silver) is one ounce of gold (or silver).

If you don’t hold it, you don’t own it. All you would have is a derivative of money, with is inherently worthless.

[metmom]

Now someone needs to find a paycheck stub.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The prices at the Hartford, CT "Half Dime Lunch Room" were pretty good, too. The Good Old Days. But where are the Keto, Mediterranean Diet, and Lo-Fat dishes?

[posterchild]

You could have bought a whole case of National Bohemian for $3.15 in 1984.

[Leaning Right]

And now it’s time for a grocery joke.

An old man visits his doctor for his annual checkup.

Doctor: How are you feeling these days?
Old man: I’m stronger than I ever was!

Doctor (surprised): Really?
Old man: Yes. It used to take me both hands to carry $20 worth of groceries.
Now I can can easily carry $20 worth of groceries with one hand.

😀

[Right Brother]

While our government printing money is primarily to blame, women in the workforce have been driving wages down for decades.

[marktwain]

Inflation has reduced the value of a dollar by half since 1997.

Double any of the prices shown for 1997 to obtain today’s equivalent.

[Henry Hnyellar]

Cumulative rate of inflation since 1997 is 102%.

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/

[Magnum44]

In the early seventies, my mom used to comment how a trip to the grocery store was costing over $50!

[Bobalu]

silver/gold = no counterparty risk if you possess it.

Cash is ALL risk if you possess it... fiat is synonymous with risk.

[gloryblaze]

... According to the official US Census website, the median household income in 1997 was $37,005. In 2024, that number had risen to $83,730 — a little over double....

While not keeping pace with grocery bills, that is a surprisingly high median income - at least to me.

[CodeToad]

Back in the 1990’s, weekly groceries were about $80. By 2010, $120. Today $300.

[Tell It Right]

To be fair, I make a lot more money now in quasi-retirement in my 50’s than I did 3 decades ago working full time in my 20’s (over 3 times as much now vs then). However, the kind of work I did in my 20’s (pulling orders in a grocery warehouse while I was slowly working through college on my 2 off days) doesn’t now pay three times as much like the cost of groceries has gone up.

[Lurker]

There ya go.

L

[napscoordinator]

Yeah. No way average income in America is 83K unless they are counting couples. I’m at 78K and thought that was pretty good for Florida. If you add my wife, we’re six figures.