What Were Some Average Prices of Everyday Groceries in 1949?
In 1949, a loaf of bread cost 13 cents on average, while milk cost 84 cents per gallon. The average annual salary in 1949 was between $2,950 and $3,600, and the minimum wage was 40 cents per hour.
In 1949, a pound of bacon was 50 cents and a box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes weighed 13 ounces and cost 19 cents. A can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup went for 10 cents and weighed 10 1/2 ounces.
Coca-Cola cost 5 cents per bottle, 25 cents per 6-bottle carton, and $1 per 24-bottle carton. A box of Nabisco’s Oreo cookies weighed 4.25 ounces and cost 14 cents.
A Desert Sun magazine edition from June 24, 1949 featured prices at Safeway stores. Carrots cost 5 cents per pound, cucumbers went for 4 cents per pound, cabbage was 2 cents per pound, and a pound of celery cost 6 cents. A pound of lamb chops was 85 cents, while ground beef went for 37 cents per pound. Two 6-ounce cans of grated tuna were 49 cents, while two 9-ounce cans of ripe olives cost 39 cents.
Safeway stores also offered 2-pound bags of apples for 15 cents. A pound of watermelons was 3 cents.
