What the grocery money goes for, then and now

The processed foods and sweets category really stands out in this chart prepared by NPR's Planet Money. In 1982, only 11.6 percent went for stuff like frozen dinners, canned soups and snacks. In 2011, it's 22.9 percent. Keep in mind that the chart does not measure actual consumption - just the percentage of what we pay. Meats, for example, have fallen from 31.3 percent in 1982 to 21.5 percent in 2012. But certain kinds of meat - pork in particular - are a lot cheaper now than they were 30 years ago. Butter and lettuce are also cheaper.