Grocery Prices From The Buffalo Evening News February 21, 1924

Every so often we look back at life in the Unites States 100 years ago. In this case, we were looking at Buffalo, New York.

Besides the household prices for groceries, we glanced quickly at a few news items from the Buffalo Evening News newspaper for February 21, 1924.

Buffalo was dealing with a major blizzard.

Yet, after 36 hours of continuous snow and a temperature of 19 degrees, life did not stop in the city (unlike today where the threat of one inch of snow shuts down New York City).

The abundance of snow slowed the street car lines, but they were kept running along with trains, despite snowdrifts of two to three feet on the streets.

A Dedicated Officer

After his horse became crippled during the snowstorm, New York State Police Trooper, E.F. Foley, walking most of the 20 miles overnight from Caledonia to Batavia, to report to his station barracks house. Upon arriving he quickly drank some coffee and told his commanding officer about his trek, before leaving to get on a train to Buffalo to appear for a court case that morning.

Talking about coffee, it was reported that Americans were drinking more coffee than previously. The average American was drinking 514 cups of coffee in 1923 as compared to 465 cups in 1922.

On Parkview Avenue a two story modern home with four rooms and three bedrooms and a bath upstairs was for sale for $5,500

Finally as far as food prices go, on page 11 of the newspaper is an advertisement for The Main Central Market.

As you can see in the ad a variety of grocery items are listed for sale.

Prices for some common items:

Main Star Blend Coffee 50¢ for 2 pounds
Tetley’s Mixed Tea 87¢ a pound
Sliced Bacon 29¢ a pound
Pork Loins 17¢ a pound
Tender Beef Chuck Roasts 18¢ a pound
Sunkist Navel Oranges 30¢ a dozen
Baldwin Apples $1.50 per bushel (42 pounds)
Fancy Iceberg Lettuce 10¢ a head
Fresh Eggs 55¢ per dozen
Fancy Creamery Butter 59¢ a pound
French Brioche Bread 50¢ a dozen
Fresh Turkey 38¢ a pound
Fancy Winter Caught White Fish 25¢ a pound
Seedless Raisins 25¢ for 2 pounds
Famous Potato Salad a la Renner 18¢ a pound
Genuine Imported Swiss Cheese 65¢ a pound
12 cakes of Kirkman’s Borax Soap 59¢

The items that have risen dramatically (ten times the price or more) in 100 years are most meats, fish and produce. Other items like eggs, butter and cheese were relatively expensive back in 1924 as compared to prices today.