Serendipity Sunday - What's the beef?

While searching through newspapers looking for mention of my ancestors I came across this article in the Dec 7, 1878 issue of the Quebec Saturday Budget.

On that date the retail cost of first quality dressed beef is about $9.50 for 100 lbs, and I don't know why the wide range, but 5¢ to 12½ ¢ per lb for 3rd quality. These are prices your ancestors could expect to pay for their supplies in 1878.

  

 

And prices of leathers and hides...

 

 

You can compare them with the prices of 1881 (page 3) and 1897 (page 4) .

Check local newspaper archives from your area to get prices of supplies.  These were listed Wholesale and Retail prices near the shipping news.  Also grocery store ads.