When you look at the price of things, say a new high end radio, it may be tough to think you get more for the money. But there’s a lot to be thankful for for how much you can get for how little compared to what was. Professor Perry describes Christmas shopping: 1958 vs. 2012.
One link is to a table of “Average Hourly Earnings Of Production And Nonsupervisory Employees: Manufacturing” by moth from 1939 through 2012. For instance, my Wilson WE800 2 meter synthesized CMOS portable radio cost about $800 in 1978 when the wage was about $5.90/hr. That represents more than three week’s wages. The same hours of work today would buy a radio costing about $2600.
Another link is to wishbookweb.com which has old Sears, Wards, and JC Penny catalogs going back to the thirties.
“there has never been a better time to be a holiday shopper and consumers than right now. For that, you can thank the “miracle of the marketplace,” which brings us better and cheaper consumer goods all the time.”
Look for a nice 2m FM portable radio from the late fifties … things have changed.
Post a Comment