In Home Alone in 1990, Kevin spent $19.83 on groceries; the cost of those same groceries would now be $68.99
In Home Alone in 1990, Kevin spent $19.83 on groceries.
Per the DailyMail, the cost of those same groceries would now be $68.99.
As the fictional 8-year-old finds himself navigating the world solo, he embarks on a journey to the nearby grocery store to procure essential items like food, toiletries, and household necessities.
His total expenditure amounts to approximately $20. One TikToker approximated that Culkin would expend nearly $70 for the equivalent grocery list in the current year if the items were purchased from Target, marking a surge of 250%.
In the movie, Kevin makes his grocery purchases at the family-owned supermarket named Rockford Schnucks in Illinois.
He acquires a half-gallon of milk, a half-gallon of orange juice, a TV dinner, a loaf of Wonderbread, frozen mac and cheese, liquid detergent, Saran wrap, a bag of toy soldiers, Snuggle dryer sheets, and toilet paper. McCallister employs a one-dollar discount coupon, resulting in a final cost of $19.83.
According to the Schnucks grocery store's current pricing:
- Half a gallon of milk: $1.71
- Half a gallon of OJ: $3.99
- Butternut large white bread: $2.79 (Note: Wonderbread not available)
- TV dinner: $4.49 (Stouffer's classic meatloaf frozen meal)
- Frozen mac and cheese: $1.49
- Tide liquid detergent: $12.99
- Saran wrap: $3.39
- Snuggle dryer sheets: $2.94
- Toilet paper: $7.99
- Toy soldiers (unavailable, Amazon price listed): $9.99
In 2023, Kevin's total expenditure would amount to $54.94 (inclusive of Illinois sales tax) or $53.94 with his one-dollar discount.
Taking into account inflation, $1 in 1990 possesses the same purchasing power as $2.30 today. Over the past 33 years, this reflects a change of $1.30. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, the equivalent of $19.83 in December 1990 holds the same buying power as $45.62 in October 2023—the most recent CPI data available for this year.
From 2021 to 2022, U.S. retail food prices experienced an 11% increase—the most substantial annual rise in over 40 years, as reported by the Government Accountability Office. Although average inflation in 1990 was escalating at 5.4%, it did not reach the 8% level witnessed last year.