Planet Money

Why the price of Coke didn't change for 70 years (classic)

Prices go up. Occasionally, prices go down. But for 70 years, the price of a bottle of Coca-Cola didn't change. From 1886 until the late 1950s, a bottle of coke cost just a nickel. On today's show, we find out why. The answer includes a half a million vending machines, a 7.5 cent coin, and a company president who just wanted to get a couple of lawyers out of his office. This episode originally ran in <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/11/15/165143816/why-coke-cost-a-nickel-for-70-years">2012</a>. This episode was hosted by David Kestenbaum. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. Help support Planet Money and get bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in <a href="http://n.pr/PM-digital">Apple Podcasts</a> or at <a href="https://n.pr/3HlREPz">plus.npr.org/planetmoney</a>. Learn more about sponsor message choices: <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a> <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

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