Little Rock, Arkansas – Kevin McCallister, most known for his booby-trapping efforts against the wet bandits in Home Alone, is catching the attention of many this year for his grocery list.
Social media posts that went viral showed the scene in the movie when the main character buys ten items at the supermarket for almost $20. The posts claim that nowadays, the entire list would cost $72.
While Kevin McCallister being by himself was the most shocking thing to grocery clerks in the 1990 movie, shoppers in 2024, like Yvonne Lovell, will tell you its receipts giving them sticker shock.
“I know how much I spend when I go to the grocery store, and the few things I buy always are a lot more than I anticipate,” Lovell explained.
She was shopping at the Drug Emporium in Little Rock. She didn’t have the Home Alone grocery list. It includes a half-gallon of milk, a half-gallon of orange juice, bread, frozen mac and cheese, a frozen TV dinner, laundry detergent, a 4-pack of toilet paper, dryer sheets, cling wrap, and plastic army men.
The only thing Drug Emporium did not have were the army men, so a large pack of water balloons went in the cart for $1.99.
After using a $1 coupon for the orange juice, Kevin’s total was $19.83. What about today?
“I think it would be around $89,” Lovell guessed.
Drug Emporium manager Rick Case also took a shot at the total.
“I would say minimum twice the amount than back then,” Case said.
The online viral posts say the cost to consumers in 2024 is $72.28. Adding December percent increases over the years from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. city average cost for food and beverages is approximately 81.6% higher than in December 1990. So theoretically, without the coupon, the total would be $37.83.
The 10 items from Drug Emporium totaled to $30.22. The Home Alone film was set near Chicago so perhaps shopping in Winnetka, Illinois, would have made things a bit closer.
