Food Prices During the Great Depression

The food prices of the great depression in the 1930s were something of a paradox, when you look back and consider how everything was so cheap and yet, at the same time, too expensive for many people living in those times.

Food prices weren’t much of a problem for those who were employed during the Great Depression, since they could afford the basic daily items and maybe a few extras, like a movie or ice cream; but, for the unfortunate ones who were unemployed, even the basic daily necessities were totally out of reach.

Actually, it wasn’t that food prices were high, but rather the lack or absence of money that kept most of the things that people not only wanted, but needed, within arm’s reach or on the other side of the store window.

Imagine not being able to run to the store and grab food, clothing and, if you need it, medicine; and then not being able to pay the mortgage or rent, or electricity or cooking gas. Could you go without?

Who, in our former prosperous age, could deal with that sort of inconvenience, when we’re used to turning on the light switch in the morning and turning on the automatic coffee machine to dilute some of those twelve-dollar-a-pound grounds we buy at the specialty coffee bean, after enjoying a six-dollar grande mocha with friends.

There was no such thing for families during the great depression, in their poor circumstances. Imagine buying a simple cup of coffee with cream and sugar (if you can get one today) for five cents; a two-egg, bacon, and toast breakfast with a piece of cake and a cup of coffee, for 25 cents; or a chocolate bar for ten cents.

Doesn’t sound like much, except those who were employed might have been making only $2 or $3 a day, but when you don’t have those few small coins, great depression food prices seemed pretty high! For those who had money, life was undoubtedly more comfortable considering the times, but for those who had to scrimp and scrape to put food on the table, their days were filled with worry and struggle.

Many mothers often ran out of food, so their children had more to eat. She didn’t spend her pennies foolishly, if she had them, but used them for the things that were vital to her family’s survival. She would account for every penny.

With money during the Great Depression being so tight, families were often left without what little they could have acquired, from some sort of job, or, perhaps, from pawning something of sentimental value.

And to make matters worse, the lives of families were often drastically compromised or challenged as the men left for other parts of the country in search of employment. Some men never returned, but instead turned to illegal activities in the hope of profit, or to alcohol, only worsening their own and their family’s problems. Some even think about suicide.

In any case, most people had nowhere to turn, as borrowing from their neighbors or relatives would cause them more trouble. Local stores could have extended credit to certain people, but they were rarely allowed to pay, as some people were still paying outstanding bills, long after the war, which followed the Great Depression, ended.

Money, or the lack of it, was the main thing that dominated millions of lives for many years during the first part of this century. And, it is no different today. Money, for many people, in one way or another, continues to rule.

Hard times are coming again for those who don’t think so, like many people around the world, are already experiencing our plummeting economy. I’m sure I’m noticing the current rise in food prices (or, more realistically, the decline in the value of the dollar), as a half-empty grocery bag costs a lot more today than it did not long ago.

Goal, hey! There is hope, and for those who are informed, there is no need to be surprised and despair by these difficult times ahead. We can take precautions, plan and prepare for our current and future lifestyle management by staying ahead of the game.

We can learn more about food prices during the Great Depression and valuable ways we can prepare ourselves and our families for what is likely, one way or another, depending on our circumstances, to be much like or worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s.