Thread: Fabric price increases: A comparison from 1993

Many have commented about the recent price increases in cotton fabrics. We all feel the "pinch" when at the fabric shops. I went today to a charity sale, and found a table with remnants in their original fabric store bands, dated from Nov. of 1993. (Someone was stash building!)

I purchased 6 remnants, five of LQS quality 100% cotton Christmas fabric, and one of a corduroy print, also cotton.
The prices on the 1993 labels were as follows:
#1 is 1/2yd. 44" wide, $5.98/yd.
#2 is 1 1/6 yd. 45" wide, $6.98/yd.
#3 is 5/6 yd. 45" wide, $5.98/yd.
#4 is 7/8 yd. 45" wide, $6.98/yd.
#5 is 3/4 yd. 44" wide, $5.98/yd.
#6 (corduroy) is 1 1/8 yd. 44" wide, $13.98/yd.

I would be interested to know the adjustment rate for today's dollar, to compare what these prices would be now.
Guessing most of these fabrics would be $9-$11 per yd. and the corduroy would be $17-$20 per yd.

PS I paid $3.50 for the entire group! Score!!

:thumbup:

Big time score

great score. i'm thinking you are right on the prices

This http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm says that $5.98 is the same now as $9.38.

Which means fabric prices are about the same as what they were then.

Great find! Thanks for price comparison!

That is an awesome website. I sent one to each of my kids with their birth year and the link. So much for the rate of inflation.

Originally Posted by Skittl1321

This http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm says that $5.98 is the same now as $9.38.

Which means fabric prices are about the same as what they were then.

Which is what I was thinking, that adjusting for inflation, the prices are about the same as we paid 15-20 yrs. ago. Wish I had a pay stub from 1993 to see what my hourly wage was back then. Sadly, I think we could make the same kind of comparison in the grocery store or at the gas pump! I just found it interesting to have those price labels all dated, like a snapshot in time. Thanks for the info!

interesting information for sure

Originally Posted by Skittl1321

This http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm says that $5.98 is the same now as $9.38.

Which means fabric prices are about the same as what they were then.

That is fascinating to play with. An apartment we rented for $75.00 a month when we started at WMU would now be almost $500. a month. Our $20.00 wedding gift in 1966 would now be almost $140.00 value! Amazing!!!!