SEELEY LAKE - With every new year comes several factors that are inserted into an already complex economic landscape. The overall effect it will have on businesses such as grocery stores will not be known until the future, however what can be determined now is how grocery prices have changed in the last 30 years.
On Sept. 26, 1990, Melody Spafford of Seeley Lake did the annual Price Check Comparison for the Valley Market in Seeley Lake. She compared their prices to three grocery stores in Missoula: Buttrey’s, Albertons and Tidyman’s. The prices were reported in the Nov. 8, 1990 issue of the Pathfinder.
A quote included with the 1990 chart stated that the intention of the price checks are “to remain in line with the Big Boys.”
The Pathfinder recreated the chart, as close as possible, based on a price comparison at Cory’s Valley Market and Albertsons during the week of Nov. 23 - 27 to show how prices have changed over the last 30 years. Buttrey’s and Tidyman’s were not included in this edition because Buttrey’s grocery store division sold to Albertsons in 1998 and Tidyman’s closed in July 2005.
All items are regular shelf price items unless otherwise noted as recorded Sept. 26, 1990 versus Nov. 23-27, 2020. The total sales receipt increased nearly 40% for both stores. When all items were tallied, using sale prices, Cory's Valley Market still remained nearly $3 less expensive based on the items selected in 1990.
For the full price comparison visit https://www.seeleylake.com/home/customer_files/article_documents/grocery_comparison_chart.pdf
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