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PeaceWave

(1,850 posts)
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 06:09 PM Yesterday

Want to know what food prices were nearly 40 years ago, in 1986? Watch this scene from the 1986 film Manhunter...

Cereal was $1.99

Jell-o was 79 cents

Nestle Tollhouse morsels were $2.29

Carnation powdered milk was $1.49

Peanut butter was $3.29

Del Monte crushed pineapple cans were 2 for 99 cents

The scene, from the first film adaptation of a Hannibal Lector book, was shot in an actual grocery store (in the Miami area I believe). It's one of the rare tidbits of cinema history that's of actual economic value - since it provides factual data regarding food prices at a particular time in history. Reality is that food prices actually rose very slowly over the next 35 years. It was only once the pandemic occurred that food prices really skyrocketed.





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Want to know what food prices were nearly 40 years ago, in 1986? Watch this scene from the 1986 film Manhunter... (Original Post) PeaceWave Yesterday OP
When i got my driver's license in 1986 gas was .89 a gallon Buckeyeblue Yesterday #1
Adjusted for inflation, today's 2.89 per gallon Dave says Yesterday #5
I recall popsdenver 23 hrs ago #6
Michael Mann put forth his usual fine directorial work. John1956PA Yesterday #2
Yes. Good movie. But, those food prices jump out at you. They didn't budge much for almost 35 years. PeaceWave Yesterday #3
William Petersen MorbidButterflyTat Yesterday #4

Buckeyeblue

(5,975 posts)
1. When i got my driver's license in 1986 gas was .89 a gallon
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 06:22 PM
Yesterday

But that was almost 40 years ago. I can remember in 1986 my grandpa going on and on about how high the price of gas was. He loved to complain about how much everything cost. I used to think being an adult means you sit around with other adults and talk about how much every costs. And it turned out that i was right.

Dave says

(5,196 posts)
5. Adjusted for inflation, today's 2.89 per gallon
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 06:41 PM
Yesterday

…was 98 cents. So a little higher, yes.

I retired a few years ago and I’m already chasing kids off my lawn and complaining about prices to my wife.

popsdenver

(84 posts)
6. I recall
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 07:36 PM
23 hrs ago

in 61? Diesel was 12 cents a gallon and gas was 18 cents a gallon........in 67 I had a VW Bug and it was 30 cents a gallon. I would get 300 miles on a 3.00 fillup........

I forget what it was when Clinton was in office? Anyone remember??????

At any rate it was nothing compared to the prices when the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Haliburton CABAL ran up the price for no REAL reason except Oil Company Profits. I had a Diesel and was paying 4.40 a gallon, and it came down some after them, but is still priced outrageously....

I sure would hate to be a kid just starting out today with the un-fathomable prices they are facing, esp considering the stagnation in wages over the past 40-50 years........

Fine world we have made for them..............quite the legacy, don't you think........

John1956PA

(4,319 posts)
2. Michael Mann put forth his usual fine directorial work.
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 06:23 PM
Yesterday

Brian Cox was great as Hannibal Lector. Tom Noonan, with his six-foot six frame and muscular build, portrayed the frightening menace of the serial killer. William Peterson excelled in portraying the physically and psychologically injured federal investigator.

The movie cut off the last portion of the novel, but it is nonetheless worth viewing.

PeaceWave

(1,850 posts)
3. Yes. Good movie. But, those food prices jump out at you. They didn't budge much for almost 35 years.
Wed Jul 30, 2025, 06:28 PM
Yesterday
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