40 years of Inflation

Jun 20, 2005
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Scary stuff what the pound is now worth since 1983.

Mars Bar was 16p now 75p

Half dozen eggs was 37p now £1.40

Pint of London Pride 58p now £4.50

20 B&H fags £1.02 now £13.90

loaf bread 38p now £1.38

Pint milk 21p now 70p

The OAP Pension hasn’t kept pace😢😢
 
Jul 18, 2017
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When we came to the UK in 1993 a litre of unleaded petrol was £0.45 and a lot more what we had been paying for a litre. I think it was at that point or shortly afterwards that the government of the day introduced the annual increase of the cost of fuel?

The cost of a pint of beer was eye watering and we could not afford to eat out or even buy takeaways. Actually still cannot afford to eat out or buy takeaways! :D
 
Nov 30, 2022
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When I started my apprenticship in a garage in 1971, the cost of three GALLONS (thats 13.5 litres) had just gone UP to a pound! But my wages were only something like a fiver a week.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Scary stuff what the pound is now worth since 1983.

Mars Bar was 16p now 75p

Half dozen eggs was 37p now £1.40

Pint of London Pride 58p now £4.50

20 B&H fags £1.02 now £13.90

loaf bread 38p now £1.38

Pint milk 21p now 70p

The OAP Pension hasn’t kept pace😢😢

But surely it’s only relevant when related to rises in incomes. Otherwise I could add that in 1958 my parents gave me half a crown to go and see Doctor in the House and Genevieve whereas now an early evening film would set me back …….???

Solely looking at such figures doesn’t recognise that in real terms many things are much cheaper these days.
 
Jul 18, 2017
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in 1971 despite us having an oil embargo with Ark Royal patrolling the Beira straits plus other sanctions, we were paying about 2/6d for a gallon of petrol. Could fill up my 1965 Cortina 1300 for less than £2. Those were the days!
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Oh Clive, Just light hearted now and then! Yes of course you can pick any period in history. How does your 1958 compare?
 
Jul 18, 2017
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Oh Clive, Just light hearted now and then! Yes of course you can pick any period in history. How does your 1958 compare?
In those days in 1968 my monthly take home salary was £62.50. A bit less after tax, board and lodging deducted as even in the services we had to pay. I think take home was just over £50 a month.
 
Nov 11, 2009
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Oh Clive, Just light hearted now and then! Yes of course you can pick any period in history. How does your 1958 compare?


Dusty
It was something of a rubbish birthday as the half a crown did not include for the bus, a friend or an ice cream. So that’s why it sticks in my memory. 🙁 But the films were okay. 😃
 
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Jun 16, 2020
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In my proffesion, wages went up about 330% since 1983. But I found it interesting to compare the increases in the OP with each other as percentages.

Mars Bar was 16p now 75p. = 468%

Half dozen eggs was 37p now £1.40. = 378%

Pint of London Pride 58p now £4.50. = 776%

20 B&H fags £1.02 now £13.90. = 1363%

loaf bread 38p now £1.38. = 363%

Pint milk 21p now 70p. = 333%

So two conclusions from this very small sample.

1. Wages have not kept up.

2. I am pleased I gave up smoking in 1986!

John
 
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Mar 14, 2005
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In my proffesion, wages went up about 330% since 1983. But I found it interesting to compare the increases in the OP with each other as percentages.

Mars Bar was 16p now 75p. = 468%

Half dozen eggs was 37p now £1.40. = 378%

Pint of London Pride 58p now £4.50. = 776%

20 B&H fags £1.02 now £13.90. = 1363%

loaf bread 38p now £1.38. = 363%

Pint milk 21p now 70p. = 333%

So two conclusions from this very small sample.

1. Wages have not kept up.

2. I am pleased I gave up smoking in 1986!

John
The Mars Bar may have only gone up 468% but its weight has reduced to about 50% so in real terms they have gone up about 900%

I seem to recall that someone back in the 70's claimed that the Mars bar was actually quite a good indicator of the cost of living, perhaps they are!
 

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