Hello, and thank you for this interesting question! I have a variety
of sources for you, and had fun researching this for you. Kind of
makes you think about our prices today, doesn't it?
First, from "The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West," by
Candy Moulton, published by Writer's Digest Books, 1999. ISBN #
0-89879-870-1 (this does not go up to 1887, but the comparisons are
interesting.)
Common prices in the 1800s
1860
Wheat, per bu. 8.60
Flour, per barrel 5.25
Corn, per bu. .88
Molasses, gal. .33
Mess pork, barrel 16.12
Mess beef, barrel 5.00
Lard, per lb. .10
Butter, per lb. .15
Sugar, per lb. .06
Cheese, per lb. .09
Rice, per lb. .035
1864
Wheat, per bu. 1.53
Flour, per barrel 8.00
Corn, per bu. 1.27
Molasses, gal. .50
Mess pork, barrel 19.75
Mess beef, barrel 5.80
Lard, per lb. .12
Butter, per lb. .27
Sugar, per lb. .13
Cheese, per lb. .12
Rice, per lb. .085
1867
Wheat, per bu. 1.08
Flour, per barrel 4.00
Corn, per bu. .50
Molasses, gal. .25
Mess pork, barrel 9.25
Mess beef, barrel 8.50
Lard, per lb. .07
Butter, per lb. .18
Sugar, per lb. .075
Cheese, per lb. .07
Rice, per lb. .06
From the 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalog (Reprinted by Chelsea House
Publishers, 1997, ISBN # 0-7910-4626-5.)
Coffee, per lb. .16
Cocoa, 5 lbs. 1.80
Salt, per barrel, 1.00
Mess Pork, per barrel 9.50
Extra Mess Corned Beef, per barrel 9.00
Lard, per lb. 065
Flour, per barrel 4.75
Navy beans, per lb. .025
Rice, per lb. 045
Molasses, per gallon .13
Cheese, per lb. .11
And finally, I realize this is not from the exact year 1887, but I
hope this can give you an idea of the prices in that decade, and also
some comparisons as to how they fluctuated. Prices would have been
different in different areas of the country, too. I have a cookbook
from 1887, if you are interested in a recipe or two from that time,
I'd be happy to post them for you.
Search Strategy:
"food prices" +1887
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&q=%22food+prices%22+%2B%221887%22&btnG=Google+Search
and my own library of reference materials. |
