Left, a Warilla Woolworths receipt from 1998; right, items at Warilla in 2026.
Left pictures from Reddit, right picture by Anna Warr Going to the supermarket has changed.
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or signup to continue reading EOFY SAVE 50% All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other in your area The cost of living has risen dramatically, and it feels like going to the shops hits your wallet harder than ever before.
The change has been shown in full from a well-preserved Warilla Woolworths receipt from 1998 posted on Reddit.
Discovered in a VHS case for Romeo+Juliet, the receipt reveals how much some items have gone up in price, while others have stayed very close to the same.
The shop, which was purchased on February 28, 1998, might be missing some staples like butter, milk, and eggs, but it does feature some interesting purchases.
Excluding the $28.94 spent on the VHS itself, the total shop comes to $90.34, which, adjusted for inflation, comes to about $191.08.
This is based on an average inflation rate of 2.8 per cent according to the RBA's inflation calculator, which only goes to 2025, so keep recent jumps in mind.
Laundry detergent has seen a sharp rise.
Picture by Joel Ehsman The most notable jump is laundry detergent.
Two litres of the stuff, which doesn't have a brand on the receipt, cost $1.88 back in the '90s, which, if prices had risen at the same rate as inflation, would have seen the price be about $4.
Prices on big brands like Cold Power and Dynamo are in the mid to high $20s for a two-litre bottle, while other options like Fab are sitting at $9.
The only option cheaper than 1998 is Woolworths' exclusive Clean Laundry Liquid, which is $2 for two litres.
Peas at Warilla Woolworths.
Picture by Anna Warr Another big jump, peas, with 500g bag setting you back 99 cents in 1998, now it costs $4.50.
What about a brand we can compare to the receipt, though? Well, a two-litre tub of Bulla Ice Cream in 1998 was $2.95, adjusted for inflation, you're looking at $6.32.
In 2026, the same tub will cost you $6, meaning Bulla is beating inflation.
One staple on the receipt is cheese, with a 250-gram block of cheese, which has been bought both as a home brand and a name brand on the receipt.
A block of tasty cheese in 1998, $2.15, now $6, about $2 faster than inflation, while a homebrand block at $1.46 will now set you back, also $6.
Bulla ice cream has risen less than inflation.
Picture by Anna Warr So why does it feel like the rise in groceries has hit us so hard in the last few years, considering the average rise of 2.8 per cent does track with a lot of items at the supermarket? An inquiry into supermarkets released by the Australian Competition....
