The Christmas classic "Home Alone," released in 1990, has become one of the most beloved holiday films of all time, capturing the imaginations of millions with its hilarious depiction of young Kevin McCallister’s antics when left home alone. One scene, which features Kevin's memorable grocery haul, stands out to viewers. Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, embarks on this important shopping trip following his parents' accidental departure to Paris, armed only with his resourcefulness and some cash.
Originally, Kevin’s grocery trip cost him just $19.83—a small price for such large haul. But what if Kevin were to hop back on the grocery cart and venture out today? That’s exactly what intrigued publishers like The Enquirer and WSYR-TV, who decided to put this to the test, comparing the costs of the grocery items Kevin famously bought against the current prices we face today due to inflation.
Kevin's fictional shopping spree took place at Rockford Schnucks, a family-owned supermarket located in Illinois. During his visit, Kevin snagged several food staples and household necessities, including half-gallon milk, orange juice, TV dinners, Wonder Bread, frozen mac and cheese, detergent, Saran wrap, dryer sheets, toilet paper, and even some toy soldiers. Adjusting for inflation using pricing from Schnucks' current online listings, it becomes apparent just how much prices have increased over the past thirty-four years.
Today, the individual item prices tell quite the story:
- Half-gallon of milk: $1.89
- Half-gallon of orange juice: $3.79
- Butternut large white bread: $2.89 (Wonder Bread not available)
- Stouffer's classic meatloaf TV dinner: $3.99
- Frozen mac and cheese: $3.69
- Tide liquid detergent: $12.99
- Saran wrap: $2.99
- Bounce dryer sheets (120 count): $6.99
- Angel Soft toilet paper (8 count): $8.39
- Toy soldiers (Amazon price listed): $7.49
When conjoined, these items tally up to $58.54! Once Illinois sales tax is accounted for, Kevin would be shelling out $57.54 if he applied his standard dollar-off coupon. Making his trip to the grocery store defeat the simplicity of his earlier venture, if he were to navigate today’s prices, Kevin’d surely require more than just the twenty-dollar bill he graciously took from his brother's piggy bank.
The curiosity didn't stop there. NewsChannel 9 also aimed to replicate Kevin's grocery trip to find similar pricing for the same goods back in 1990’s prices. Their pricing analysis yielded subtle discrepancies: they reported prices for items like:
- Wonder bread: $3.79
- Orange juice: $4.29
- Half-gallon of milk: $2.49
- Stouffer’s TV dinner: $4.59
- Stouffer’s mac and cheese: $4.49
- Tide detergent: $7.49
With their total expenditure falling around $42.15, their grocery trip cost them $22.28 more than Kevin’s modest expense back then. Despite not being able to locate toy soldiers, their efforts prove how challenging it is to keep up with the current inflation rates.
So, just what does this mean for the notorious child left home alone? The moral of the story echoes throughout: inflation significantly impacts how far one’s money can stretch at the grocery store. "If Kevin was left home alone in 2024," asserted NewsChannel 9, "he’d probably need more than a 20-dollar bill from his brother’s savings to purchase everything he needs." Given the stark change in grocery prices, one can’t help but chuckle at how Kevin would navigate today’s supermarket aisles.
With inflation affecting countless households, it raises the question—How did we get here? While his trip epitomizes the struggle to manage rising expenses, it also immortalizes the nostalgia associated with the holidays and the memorable antics of Kevin McCallister.