50 years ago

GROCERY prices have skyrocketed during the past three months in Hamilton – and the consumer price index is back up to 100. Goods have reached the highest price since the introduction of the Spectator consumer price index in January 1971. The index is conducted in Hamilton’s five major grocery stores – Nancarrows, Tom The Cheap, Permewans, Discount House and Thomsons. The survey, which is conducted quarterly, is taken over 22 items including bread, eggs, milk, lamb, sugar, detergent, soap, toilet paper and jam. The average price of the total list of items was $9.08. The index reached 100. This revealed a gigantic leap over June’s figure of 95.3