30yo Coles receipt shows how inflated groceries have become

A Coles receipt from three decades ago has emerged on social media – showing just how expensive groceries have become.

A supermarket receipt from 1992 has emerged on social media, with many quick to point out the staggering price difference.

One social media user took to Facebook group Old Shops Australia to share the Coles receipt from West Pennant Hills, in Sydney’s northwest, from three decades ago.

The receipt came to a total of $17.50 for close to three kilograms of white onions, potato chips and two sets of sausages.

The cost was even rounded down by two cents, and there was no GST added to the bill.

“I found this Coles receipt from 1992 being used as a bookmark in an old book over the weekend,” the social media user who posted it said.

30yo Coles receipt’s insane detail. Picture: Facebook/Old Shops Australia

“White onions were cheap back then, you don’t see them much anymore, the brown and red onions rule the roost these days.

“The snags were probably 1kg packs, and the chips were probably my favourites, Smiths Salt and Vinegar.”

Looking at the supermarket’s website, a kilogram of white onions retails for $5, while sausages such as original beef or pork sit at $12 for a kilogram.

For the Coles Finest range, such as Coles Finest Sausages Beef Garlic Parsley, sell for $9 for 500 grams but a kilogram would set shoppers back $16.

Meanwhile, a 170-gram pack of Smith’s Crinkle Cut Salt And Vinegar Potato Chips retail for $4.80 and 380-gram party size bag sells for $8.50.

Grocery bills in Australia have hit a new high, with a recent Finder survey of more than 1000 households finding the cost of a weekly grocery shop had jumped 25 per cent over the past year.

The average household now spends $185 per week on groceries, up from $148 in February 2022.

Finder money expert Sarah Megginson says the increase adds up to an additional $1924 per year per household, or $18.8bn nationally.

One social media user took to Facebook group Old Shops Australia to share the Coles receipt from three decades ago. Picture: Gaye Gerard/NCA NewsWire

“Households are facing some very tough times and escalating grocery costs are an extra burden,” she said. “Aussies are having to change how and where they shop just to keep food on the table.”

Social media users were quick to comment on the receipt, which is over 31 years old.

“Remember those well! I started working for Coles in 1993,” one social media user said.

Another added: “No GST then.”

With no specification on how many sausages were bought, one social media user put forward a guess.

“Snags were around $1.99 to $2.99kg back then. (I worked in a deli and sold tonnes of them). That receipt would have been for a few kgs each,” the social media user said.

Another added: “$2.98 for potato chips, wouldn’t be a chance anymore … $6.50 just for a little share packet these days.”

“Wow all these years later and the ink is still readable!!! Today’s receipts fade quite quickly,” one social media user pointed out.

One said: “Ha! Chips are the price we get them on special now but would probably have double the amount in the bag. I think it was probably more than 1kg of sausages though.”

Another social media user said: “Back when receipts didn’t fade away like they do now, and prices were actually reasonable.”