"The last century wages haven't increased at the same rate as the real cost of living."

Are you sure?

"In 1901, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that in major industrial expenditure item for families was food — half of spending in low-income third in more affluent ones. In 1999, food took only 15 percent of household more than a third of that spending was for food prepared away from home."

Source: http://bit.ly/dkLEux