A 50-year Dispatch comparison found 2026 grocery prices do not rise uniformly after inflation: milk, Pringles and ketchup are cheaper than their 1976 inflation-adjusted prices, while sugar, watermelon and sirloin steak cost more.
Sirloin steak showed the biggest increase, up $7.30 per pound versus its inflation-adjusted 1976 price, while sugar rose $2.67 overall; soda was nearly flat, with Pepsi up just $0.30 overall.
Milk posted one of the largest declines, costing about $3.19 today versus an inflation-adjusted $5.80 in 1976, while Pringles fell to $2.59 from an adjusted $4.60 and ketchup slipped to $1.49 from $1.70.
The analysis used ads from a July 1976 issue of The Dispatch and compared them with current prices as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, against cumulative inflation of 486.27% and an average annual rate of 3.6%.