How inflation has skyrocketed grocery prices since 'Home Alone' hit theaters in 1990

(TNND) — Holiday films can be nostalgic and comforting but one thing that may have us pining for the good old days is the price of groceries.

"Home Alone" was released in 1990 and follows 8-year-old Kevin McCallister after he is accidentally left at home while his family jets off to Paris for Christmas.

As inflation continues to rise, people have been doing their own sleuthing to try and determine how much little McAllister would spend today if he had to go grocery shopping. In the film, his haul of groceries only costs $20.

His list included:

• Half a gallon of milk
• Half a gallon of OJ
• Wonder Bread
• TV dinner
• Frozen mac and cheese
• Tide liquid detergent
• Saran wrap
• Bounce dryer sheets
• Toilet paper
• Toy soldiers (for the kids)

A TikTok video from 2023 estimated he would have to spend nearly $70 on the same amount of goods if purchased from Target which is an increase of 250%.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, $19.83 in December 1990 has the same buying power as $46.76 in November 2024 in the most recent consumer price index data.

U.S. retail food prices rose by 11% from 2021 to 2022, the largest annual increase in more than 40 years, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Additionally, the average inflation in 1990 was only increasing at 5.4% compared to 8% in 2022. The average rate of inflation in 2023 was 4.1%.