Cost of Living in October, 1919

The Frugal Meal

Jozef Israels

Cost of Living in October, 1919

Food. To obtain the average cost of food, several budgets including articles sufficient for a week's supply for a family of man, wife and three children were used as a basis. From these were constructed food budgets designed to meet the requirements of a minimum standard and of one slightly above the minimum. Prices were collected from four of the large down-town stores, from branches of two different chain stores, one of them represented by 21 separate branches, and from various neighborhood grocery stores: one Polish, one Portuguese and two French. When there was more than one quality of an article the price used was the lowest consistent with what appeared to be good value. The quotations collected for each article were averaged and are given in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE 1: MINIMUM FOOD BUDGET FOR A WEEK FOR A MAN, WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN UNDER FOURTEEN YEARS OF AGE, FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS, OCTOBER, 1919

...

ITEM AND AMOUNT ........... COST OCTOBER 1919

..... Meat and Fish Fruit
2 lbs. flank ................ ............ .... $ .32
2 lbs. chuck ............... ................... .40
½ lb. bacon ............... ................... .21
1 lb. dried cod ................................ .20
1 can salmon ................................. .27
. Dairy Products Bread, Cereals, etc.
1 doz. eggs ..................................... .61
1 lb. butter .. ................................ . .66
½ lb. oleomargarine or lard .......... .18
1 lb. cheese .................................... .41
14 qts. milk .................................. 2.10
........... Vegetables
1½ pks. potatoes ........................... .77
3 lbs. carrots ............................ ..... .12
2 lbs. onions .................................. .13
3 lbs. cabbage ................................ .14
2 lbs. dried beans ................... ..... . .23
1 can tomatoes ............................... .15
...... Fruit

3 qts. apples ......................................27
3 oranges ......................................... .12
4 bananas ........................................ .15
½ lb. raisins .................................... .12
1 lb. prunes ...................................... .24
.. Bread, Cereals, etc.

12 lbs. bread ..................................... 1.28
2 lbs. flour ......................................... .16
1 lb. corn meal ................................... .07
1 lb. rice ............................................. .16
1 lb. macaroni ................................. .. .16
3 lbs. sugar .........................................33
3 lbs. rolled oats ................................ .21
1 pt. molasses . ............................... .. .12
... Tea, Coffee, etc.
¼ lb. tea ........................................ .. .15
½ lb. coffee .................................... . .23
½ lb. cocoa ....................................... .22
Condiments ...................................... .11

Total weekly cost ................. $11.00

.

From the food budget itemized in Table 1, which must be regarded as a minimum, it appears that the least that can be allowed for food for a man, wife and three children under fourteen years of age in Fall River in October, 1919, is $11 a week.

From "Fall River, Massachusetts, October, 1919, Research Report, Number 22, November, 1919" by National Industrial Conference Board

Isn't 3 lbs. sugar a week plenty for a family of five? I don't use much more in a year!