math project

Fuck Google. You need to learn to love your reference librarian. This is what they get paid for. If you're at a university, that makes it really easy, but good public libraries have good business divisions, and you may get some help there.

I think there are lots of resources that could be of use. The US commerce department surveys consumer prices-- that might be a start.

Things were less expensive in the past than today. That's because they weren't as good. Everything now is much better than it ever was.

This is all you need to say in your report. Write it in a big decorative font, put a pretty sticker on the title page, and I promise you'll get an A.