How this is worked out
Are groceries more expensive than ever?
The same 11 foods, then and now.
Second year. 2026 means January to August 2026.
In hours of work. Factory pay is for production and nonsupervisory workers. After-tax pay is an estimate for one single worker: federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, no state tax and no credits.
The basket in 2026 dollars. The basket is one unit of each of 11 foods: a pound of flour, a loaf of white bread, a dozen eggs, half a gallon of milk, and a pound each of butter, ground coffee, sugar, round steak, potatoes, bacon and pork chops. It is not what a household buys. Prices are national averages. Prices and pay for 2026 are January to August 2026.
The year you were born. Prices are for the year you were born.
Your answer in words. The same 11 foods cost US$5.67 in 1960 and US$43.85 in 2026. In 2026 dollars the 1960 basket would cost US$63.47, so groceries are 31% less expensive after inflation.
Some choices came from your profile.
US inflation 3.4% (August 2026, US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
How every calculator on the site is built, and what changed and when, is on How it works.