Archival content from 1974 showing the rise in food prices

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The then-Herald started a special series 50 years ago to help families keep track of food prices and keep people in touch with prices at the most popular grocery stores.

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About eight months later, the weekly grocery survey showed that a basket of groceries that cost $35.14 at the end of February 1974 cost $40.44 on November 19, 1974.

As an example of how food prices have changed, the price of beef rose seven percent from January to February 1974; potatoes increased by 29 percent; and sugar rose 17 percent, according to the following Herald story.

Here's a sample of full-page ads in a 1974 grocery story that show the price increase:

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We know that the rising cost of food, mortgage, rent and electricity is a serious issue for many Calgarians trying to provide for their families. In our special series Compressed: Navigating the high cost of living in Calgary, we take an in-depth look at Calgary's affordability crisis. We've crunched the numbers, distributed reports and talked to experts to find out how inflation is affecting our city and what's being done to bring prices back down to earth. But most importantly, we talked to real families who shared their stories and challenges with us. As these stories spread, we hope you'll join the conversation.

This week: Scrimping and Saving: Food Security in Calgary

Still to come:

• May 27-30 – Price: Increase in housing costs
• June 3-4: Cost of Doing Business

Our series so far:

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