Memory for grocery prices in younger and older adults: the role of schematic support.

The present study examined how younger and older adults remember price information. Participants studied grocery items that were priced at market value or were well above or below market value. Although younger adults displayed better recall performance for unrealistic prices than older adults, there was no age difference for realistic prices, and both groups were equally accurate at remembering the general price range of the items. The results suggest that when older adults can rely on prior knowledge and schematic support, and tasks involve naturalistic materials, memory for associative information can be as good as that of younger adults.