Ten Years Difference – How Prices on 9 Essential Items Have Changed

(KMDL-FM) There has been a lot of water under the bridges here in South Louisiana since 2016. Literally, that was the year that we had the big flood in South Louisiana, and it also just happens to be 10 years ago from where we are in 2026.

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That got us to thinking: how much has changed in our world in the past 10 years? Has the cost of getting by really gone up as much as we seem to think it has?

How Much Has Life Really Changed in South Louisiana Over the Past Decade?

The short answer to that question, the one about prices rising, is yes. But the longer, more evolved answer to that question might be: Are we getting more for our money when we compare the products of 2016 to the products of 2026?

Better Technology Means More Bang For Your Buck

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When it comes to technology and electronics, we're probably getting a lot more for our money than we did ten years ago. But in categories such as groceries and food, we're probably paying a lot more for a smaller quantity. I know you've got your own examples of "shrinkflation" that you can share.

READ MORE: 13 "High Tech" Items Future Generations Just Won't Understand

Entertainment costs have risen dramatically when it comes to concerts and live sporting events but when it comes to being entertained at home, we are getting a lot more bang for our buck in not only technical quality but options to run that technology. This is one of the rare categories where not only value has gone up, but the retail price is lower.

READ MORE: The Truth Behind Surging Coffee Prices

But maybe the bigger question we should be concerned about should be "How much does it cost" it should be "Why didn't my paycheck keep up with these rising costs"? Now that you've got a chip on your shoulder, let's take a deeper dive into how much it cost then versus how much we're paying today.