*In 1980, the BLS transitioned to tracking the price of one pound of potatoes instead of 10 pounds. Businesses began wartime production and a myriad of jobs opened up, including for women who joined the lines at defense plants as welders, electricians, and riveters. Research conducted by financial firm Provident compares prices for food items, such as fish and chips, teabags and Mars Bars, over 25 years for its memory-lane quiz Back In The Day. But once the Federal Reserve eased policies meant to curb inflation, including price controls and increased interest rates, the economy bounced back in May. Homebuying was also spurred by the development of the Levit home, which utilized mass production techniques to build inexpensive tract homes in the suburbs. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.27 ($4.78 in todays dollars). - Potatoes (10 pounds): $1.34 ($6.48 in todays dollars) I bought my first car,a 1947 Standard - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.21 ($3.88 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.23 ($1.63 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.52 ($0.65 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.99 ($3.49 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.21 ($4.20 in todays dollars). - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.24 ($0.60 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.67 ($0.74 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $4.10 ($5.46 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.21 ($1.83 in todays dollars) Increasing Soviet-U.S. tensions led to the Truman Doctrine of March 12, 1947, which formalized Americas intent to contain the expansion of Soviet communism and committed the country to the assistance ofdemocratic nations threatened by authoritativeforces. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.63 ($5.43 in todays dollars) *In 1974, the BLS transitioned to tracking the price of grocery milk, instead of delivered. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.41 ($5.93 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.22 ($1.87 in todays dollars) Economic growth was sluggish, coming in at just 2.5% because of a soaring trade deficit. Mainly for this reason, estimates Inflation also increased and the country entered a mild recession in December. The unemployment rate fell to 3.9%, notably the lowest level in a generation. Popular Culture offers a glimpse into the lives of people and the big and little things that made up the everyday. The Iranian Revolution of 1979 paired with restrictive monetary policies aimed at lowering inflation plunged the country into another six-month recession, starting in January. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.41 ($6.06 in todays dollars) For 1944 and 1945, income amounts above $200,000 about $3.3 million in today's dollars were taxed at an astounding marginal tax rate of 94%! - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $0.86 ($3.43 in todays dollars). - Round steak (1 pound): $1.27 ($9.01 in todays dollars) RATIONING & SHORTAGES. But the coronavirus pandemic completely upended the economy, with small business revenue down 20% as of September and unemployment reaching a high of nearly 15% in April. WebThere are no reliable figures for the casualties of the Soviet Union and China, the two countries in which casualties were undoubtedly greatest. - Round steak (1 pound): $3.50 ($5.14 in todays dollars) A dozen eggs Contains a supplement for 1941. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.36 ($6.51 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $4.79 ($5.43 in todays dollars) The recession which had begun in 1990 continued through March of 1991. - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.57 ($4.13 in todays dollars). - Round steak (1 pound): $2.77 ($6.58 in todays dollars) The year also saw the launch of the dot-com bubble, with investors eagerly putting money into newly launched internet-based startups. With the economy strengthening, Congress looked to address the record-high deficit without increasing taxes and passed the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Acta five-year plan to reduce the deficitin December. Factories that had previously made ammunition switched to making consumer goods, and Americans who had been living under rations for the past three years were eager to spend their money on everything from cars, to clothes to appliances. Consumer confidence dropped even further as the threat of a gasoline shortage loomed and long lines at gas stations appeared. The hardest hit industries were entertainment, personal care and services, and apparel, though consumers did increase their spending slightly for transportation and health care. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.53 ($4.74 in todays dollars) Frustrated with the governments handling of the economy, Americans voted for Ronald Reagen in the November elections. The war meant that unemployment had virtually disappeared in the United States, as women, minorities, and teenagers joined the labor force in droves, bringing the unemployment rate to 1.2%. A brand new Ford Cortina car cost 675. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.87 ($2.35 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.60 ($5.74 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $2.22 ($4.24 in todays dollars) Income spending decreased this year and so did consumer spending. - Round steak (1 pound): $1.09 ($10.91 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.44 ($1.58 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.49 ($3.82 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.44 ($4.75 in todays dollars). - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $5.29 ($5.91 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.22 ($1.65 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.94 ($5.07 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $3.38 ($6.27 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $3.10 ($5.03 in todays dollars) You may also like: Iconic images from economic recessions in U.S. history, - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.61 ($4.09 in todays dollars) Disposable income soared in 2004, trending $40 billion higher than in 2003. One of his first acts as president was closing all the banks for several days until they were found to be financially secure, giving Congress time to put together the Emergency Banking Act and effectively restoring the publics faith in banks. - White bread (1 pound): $0.67 ($1.41 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.43 ($2.44 in todays dollars). - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.35 ($5.99 in todays dollars) The agency had a special focus on advancing the economic status of African Americans, providing them job training opportunities and advocating for their inclusion in social safety net programs. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.57 ($5.28 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.00 ($1.41 in todays dollars) Thanks to the implementation of New Deal programs, the economy began to grow, swelling to 10.8%, while unemployment fell to 21.7%. Compares pre- and post-WWI wages, union rates, farm wage rates, hours of work, and average weekly earnings by industry. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.43 ($6.70 in todays dollars) A guinea is - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $5.61 ($5.71 in todays dollars) [1] Prices are in pounds, shillings and pence. - White bread (1 pound): $0.69 ($1.37 in todays dollars) And in those homes, they put televisions4.4 million Americans had a TV in their home by 1950. - II. - White bread (1 pound): $0.20 ($1.76 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.70 ($6.82 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.12 ($3.21 in todays dollars). - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $2.68 ($4.35 in todays dollars) What was the cost of living in 1948? The price of goods also increased 1.5%. An increase in the minimum wageup to $2.30 per hour from $2.10also gave American workers a boost. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.51 ($4.56 in todays dollars). The nations median household income also climbed to $30,056. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.79 ($7.11 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.37 ($1.64 in todays dollars) This was in large part due to rising technology, which was not only making consumers lives easier but making business more efficient. Can you live on minimum wage in your state? Having made it into the new century unscatched after the Y2K scare, customers also bought computers and software in large numbers, in addition to spending more money on energy after a considerably warm 1999. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.69 ($4.04 in todays dollars). - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $3.38 ($4.66 in todays dollars) [emailprotected]. Published: Wednesday 20 March 1940 Newspaper: The Scotsman County: Midlothian, Scotland - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $2.14 ($4.90 in todays dollars) Credit cards also began to grow in popularity, with American Express launching an all-purpose credit card that could be used at stores, restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.66 ($4.24 in todays dollars). You may also like: History of the supermarket industry in America, - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.53 ($4.38 in todays dollars) Employment continued to grow, with 2 million adults1.4 million of which were womenjoining the workforce. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.78 ($9.10 in todays dollars) The price of things: In 1963 a gallon of petrol cost 5 shillings. In The real median household income was $60,684. - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.39 ($0.57 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.13 ($2.95 in todays dollars). The legislation cut payroll taxes in half, providing businesses tax credits for hiring veterans and long-term unemployed workers, and made it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get funding. - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.45 ($0.62 in todays dollars) Named after its creator, Secretary of State George C. Marshall, the Marshall Plan proposed offering European nations more than $15 billion in aid to rebuild after the war. Government policies that had raised interest rates had also resulted in higher consumer prices, leading to a decline in spending. I went to the spare room and checked my copy of Radio Times for September 1946 (every home should have one!) - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.35 ($0.63 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $2.76 ($3.90 in todays dollars). - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.33 ($0.63 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.37 ($1.49 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.13 ($2.73 in todays dollars). - White bread (1 pound): $1.44 ($1.67 in todays dollars) Making matters worse were accounting scandals at firms such as Enron and Swissair, which prompted another stock market crash. - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.69 ($4.06 in todays dollars). - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.43 ($6.47 in todays dollars) Economists were predicting a year of growth and no recession as the value of the dollar rose. Over the course of the next 10 months, the GDP dropped by nearly 2% and unemployment rose to 6.9%. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.68 ($6.51 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.25 ($1.61 in todays dollars) GDP decreased by 3.4% and unemployment was 5.6%. However, unemployment decreased to 7.4%. American prosperity continued, with unemployment at 3%. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.65 ($5.53 in todays dollars) The tax cuts would go on to have long-term benefits. However, unemployment crept up to 5.8%. - White bread (1 pound): $0.21 ($1.76 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.63 ($5.67 in todays dollars) However, unemployment was still high at around 9% and with work hard to find, many were forced to make major lifestyle changes, such as selling their homes, moving in with family or going back to school to pursue alternative careers. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.57 ($4.96 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.97 ($1.34 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.00 ($2.10 in todays dollars) The year began with 77.2 million Americans employed and unemployment at 3.3%, the lowest it had been since 1963. - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.49 ($3.96 in todays dollars). The median income for families was $4,200 in 1954, about the same as it was the previous year. 1 In 1940, minimum wage was $0.30 per hour. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.37 ($6.93 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.56 ($2.59 in todays dollars). - White bread (1 pound): $0.56 ($1.33 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.21 ($1.74 in todays dollars) The minimum wage was raised 50 cents to $4.75. - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.26 ($3.89 in todays dollars). - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.76 ($7.46 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.84 ($6.55 in todays dollars) The workforce grew by 1.6 million people in 1967, with more than 66% of these additional workers being women. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.76 ($8.51 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $2.89 ($6.62 in todays dollars) Increased wage rates and higher employment led to men earning more than they ever had before, with the average median income a record level of $3,400, a $160 increase from the previous year. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.79 ($1.74 in todays dollars) Coming off a stock market crash the previous year, the nation was plagued by economic peril. - Round steak (1 pound): $5.68 ($6.24 in todays dollars) Wars, extreme weather, political unrest, and more, have all affected the cost of goods and how Americans have spent their money. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.78 ($1.79 in todays dollars) The country was in a recession by the end of the year. - Round steak (1 pound): $1.07 ($9.57 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.12 ($3.02 in todays dollars). - White bread (1 pound): $0.18 ($1.72 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.25 ($4.52 in todays dollars). - Round steak (1 pound): $0.39 ($7.05 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.70 ($6.03 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.56 ($4.50 in todays dollars). - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.50 ($4.63 in todays dollars). By June, the economy had begun to grow again, but unemployment for the year remained high at 19%. WebCost of Living 1941 Average Cost of new house $4,075.00 Average wages per year $1,750.00 Average Monthly Rent $32.00 per month Cost of a gallon of Gas 12 cents - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.95 ($6.37 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.72 ($6.33 in todays dollars) The legislation would go on to create 9.3 million jobs. - Round steak (1 pound): $2.90 ($7.58 in todays dollars) 3 In 1940, milk cost an average of $0.26 per gallon. - White bread (1 pound): $0.16 ($1.57 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.57 ($4.44 in todays dollars). The effects of the 1981 tax cuts continued to be felt, with strong consumer and business spending. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.79 ($7.15 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.16 ($2.55 in todays dollars). In an effort to protect American businesses and farmers, President Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which raised taxes on imports. After several years of slow growth, the economy grew 2.9% in 2015. With the election over, Americans experienced a strong economy, with consumer confidence at its highest since 2000. However, Americans did save money on food, with more individuals opting to eat at home due to the high cost of dining out and a desire to eat healthier, as well as the availability of entertainment courtesy of streaming services. - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.37 ($2.62 in todays dollars). A stock market crash from the previous year, as well as an ongoing recession and high inflation, meant low economic decline for the country. Consumers also spent more money on personal insurance and pensions. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $2.05 ($5.53 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (10 pounds): $1.37 ($8.03 in todays dollars) Administration: private business, 545; costs, 546; demand, 547; foreign - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.41 ($4.43 in todays dollars). Foreign governments contested the legislation, leading to a decrease in foreign trade and weakening of the foreign economy. republish under a Creative Commons License, and we encourage you to - White bread (1 pound): $0.19 ($1.76 in todays dollars) After the war, 5 In 1940, sugar cost an average of $0.052 per - Round steak (1 pound): $0.41 ($6.06 in todays dollars) In an effort to bring the economy back from the recession, President Eisenhower increased government spending on construction projects and put more money into the nations up-and-coming interstate system. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.77 ($2.05 in todays dollars) And while the economy was booming, the world turned upside down when President Kennedy was assassinated in November, leaving Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson to take over. Quiz: Can you guess which company owns these brands? Price and wage controls enacted by the government had been successful and inflation had gone down to 3.27%. - Round steak (1 pound): $0.85 ($9.30 in todays dollars) No longer in a recession and boosted by tax cuts, inflation decreased significantly, coming down to 5.75%. Wages in 1940s compared to 1910s. The year 1950 ushered in the era known as the Golden Age of American capitalism, two decades that saw a huge increase in the middle class, with blue-collar workers purchasing homes and buying appliances and cars with their rising wages. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.88 ($4.14 in todays dollars) He also increased the minimum wage to $1.15 per hour. Federal aid finally came through with the formation of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, which offered financial assistance to railroads, banks, and business corporations, later expanding to include agriculture, and state and local public works. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.79 ($3.15 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.07 ($1.40 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $0.90 ($8.74 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.03 ($1.49 in todays dollars) High interest rates and a decrease in buying power meant less spending, with people putting off buying big-ticket items such as cars and housing. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.48 ($7.66 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.72 ($7.78 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.25 ($4.68 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.53 ($3.41 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.08 ($1.39 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.39 ($1.69 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $2.91 ($7.29 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $0.30 ($5.70 in todays dollars) However, it didnt stave off a more immediate recession caused by a regime change in Iran, which forced oil prices higher and the government trying to control rampant inflation. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.51 ($5.11 in todays dollars) By 2016 food shopping accounted for just 10.5% of our income. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.90 ($2.58 in todays dollars) Gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.7%. - White bread (1 pound): $0.89 ($1.39 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.31 ($4.66 in todays dollars). - White bread (1 pound): $0.25 ($1.56 in todays dollars) WebWhat Things Cost in 1941: Car: $925 Gasoline: .19 cents/gal House: $6,900 Bread: .08 cents/loaf Milk: .34 cents/gal Postage Stamp: .03 cents Stock Market: Dow Jones Index The year started off with strong consumer spending, with car sales historically high. - White bread (1 pound): $1.42 ($1.61 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.41 ($7.41 in todays dollars) Personal bankruptcy rates also reached record highs by 2001, in part due to the rising cost of college. Millions of Americans received a stimulus check in the summer, ranging from $300 to $600, with the federal government hoping the money would be spent to stimulate an economy undergoing a mild recession brought on by the dot-com bubble burst. Public policies assisted returning veterans in securing jobs, purchasing homes and starting families; however, many minorities still faced challenges in partaking in these opportunities. The subprime mortgage crisis had a domino effect on the economy. - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.30 ($0.56 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.09 ($1.33 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.48 ($4.71 in todays dollars). The Reorganization Act of 1939 created the Federal Security Agency, tasked with improving social services like employment, education, and financial security. They were also heading to the stores, with strong retail sales reported throughout the year. - White bread (1 pound): $0.22 ($1.71 in todays dollars) President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation to construct an interstate highway system in 1956, leading to the creation of thousands of construction jobs as well as an increase in the number of roadside businesses. Adding to the instability was the revelation by the federal government of a widening trade deficit, leading to the dollar falling in value. - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $0.79 ($3.82 in todays dollars), The economy continued to struggle in 1975, with unemployment averaging 8.5%. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.34 ($6.02 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.40 ($7.08 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.32 ($5.99 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $0.52 ($6.94 in todays dollars) A guinea is one pound and one shilling or 1.05. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.64 ($6.91 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.88 ($6.24 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $0.35 ($5.99 in todays dollars) The annual inflation rate would remain under 5% over the course of the next five years. The average family income rose 6% to $5,400. Wages and salaries went up only slightly, with the minimum wage remaining at $5.15 per hour. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.53 ($4.38 in todays dollars). WebBlack barbers earned a median $1,678 in 1949 White men earned $2,678 Non-white men earned $1,715 White women earned $1,710 Non-white women earned $928 Income BY The economy continued to grow, with annual GDP growing 2.5% and inflation at 3.93%. - Round steak (1 pound): $1.14 ($8.53 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.77 ($3.72 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.92 ($3.56 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.35 ($1.60 in todays dollars) With high unemployment continuing to be a major hurdle for the country, President Barack Obama signed the The American Jobs Act. - Round steak (1 pound): $1.10 ($8.57 in todays dollars) He also implemented a 10% import surcharge to protect American businesses from a predicted shift in exchange rates and help stabilize the dollar. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.92 ($1.57 in todays dollars) - Potatoes (1 pound): $0.49 ($0.71 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.09 ($1.30 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.86 ($4.66 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $4.00 ($5.16 in todays dollars) Those who were employed were also spending more money on health insurance. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.00 ($2.51 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.26 ($4.83 in todays dollars). In 1973, average inflation nearly doubled to 6.16. - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.19 ($3.61 in todays dollars) And while Americans were making more than before, they were also borrowing more, carrying large debts for cars and education. The inflation adjusted prices are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.67 ($7.33 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.91 ($1.64 in todays dollars) As unemployment continued to shrink, coming down to 16.9%, FDR was elected to a second term as president. You may also like: 50 remote jobs that can pay well, - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.53 - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.65 ($6.38 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $1.33 ($1.41 in todays dollars) Chris Payne. WebEnd October President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt approves US$ 1bn in Lend-Lease aid to Britain. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.46 ($4.45 in todays dollars). - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.80 ($4.59 in todays dollars). - Round steak (1 pound): $5.71 ($5.92 in todays dollars) War and Postwar Wages, Prices, and Hours, 1914-23 and 1939-44 : Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.42 ($4.59 in todays dollars). - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.42 ($3.76 in todays dollars). - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.68 ($1.82 in todays dollars) They found that in Bill Clinton, who won the election with Vice President Al Gore. - Round steak (1 pound): $3.25 ($5.71 in todays dollars) Stock markets were strong the first half of the year, but by mid-October, a barrage of negative news reports had led to decreased investor confidence and unpredictability. On the bright side, oil and gas prices fell, leading to an increase in disposable income and a growth in consumer spending. 1 November announcement that radical politician Sir Charles - White bread (1 pound): $0.76 ($1.33 in todays dollars) - Fresh grocery milk (1 gallon): $3.28. The newly inaugurated President Jimmy Carter made job creation a main priority and Congress passed the Economic Stimulus Appropriations Act. - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $4.63 ($5.36 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.19 ($1.71 in todays dollars) - Fresh delivered milk (1/2 gallon): $0.52 ($4.53 in todays dollars). - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $0.78 ($4.12 in todays dollars)*. - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.40 ($1.43 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $1.93 ($3.48 in todays dollars) - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.57 ($5.45 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.88 ($1.46 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $0.92 ($8.97 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $0.78 ($4.12 in todays dollars) - White bread (1 pound): $0.18 ($1.75 in todays dollars) However, this year was also marked by the burst of the dot-com bubble, when Nasdaq lost more than 75% of its value and a slew of internet companies went bankrupt. - Round steak (1 pound): $0.43 ($6.70 in todays dollars) The country fell into another recession, as GDP decreased by 3.7% and unemployment rose to 7.4%. That increase helped account for higher insurance rates, due to an increase in natural disasters, distracted driving accidents and costlier vehicle repairs. - Fresh grocery milk (1/2 gallon): $1.11 ($2.64 in todays dollars). - Potatoes (10 pounds): $0.34 ($5.43 in todays dollars) The unemployment rate was 6.8% and consumer spending decreased in two separate quarters. With the implementation of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, trade increased between the two countries at a rapid clip. - White bread (1 pound): $0.86 ($1.37 in todays dollars) - Round steak (1 pound): $1.30 ($8.72 in todays dollars) The economy flourished in 1994, supported by strong investment spending and a decrease in unemployment. To publish, simply grab the HTML code or text to the left and paste into - Sliced bacon (1 pound): $0.68 ($5.78 in todays dollars) - Fresh eggs (1 dozen): $1.34 ($1.85 in todays dollars) Expenditures on other areas, such as food, entertainment and education, also rose slightly. To help finance the war effort, Americans purchased war bonds, sold at 75% of their face value in denominations of $25 up to $10,000.