50 Years of change

[Dennis]

* based on 2012 census	1964	2014
Average Income	$6,000	$51,371*
Price of gasoline	$.30 per gallon	$3.67 per gallon
Price of a new car	$2,350	$32,086
Average price of a home	$22,500	$275,800
Cost of a postage stamp	$.04	$.49
Movie ticket	$1.25	$8.00
Minimum wage	$1.15	$8.00
U.S. population	191,890,000	318,167,000 (est.)

This came with some insurance information today and I found it interesting since I've lived through all 50+ years. (This also lets me test the new table format )

[Stanton]

Staggering...

The table format seems to work good.

[Eugene]

The effect of inflation and a fiat currency.

Vehicles, cars, now cost more than I paid for houses 30 and 40 years ago.

In several instances, I now have paid more in property taxes over the years than I originally paid for the property.

In my stack of family historical documents I have several post cards from the very early 1900's, each showing $500- in bank transfers. $500- would be worth around a quarter million in today's dollars.

[Dennis]

Yes, my parents first house in the mid-1950's was around $10,000, my first house in the late 1970's was $30,500 (the average price of new car).

One thing that jumped out at me, was movie ticket prices stayed pretty much on pace with the minimum wage...

[torchred89]

Yep! and I think we were a lot better off back then.

[Eugene]

Yep! and I think we were a lot better off back then.

Disagree.

Quality of life is much better now than 50 or more years ago. Currently watching Judge Judy on cable. Have central air and heat. Typing on the computer. Wife currently talking on her cell phone. My cell phone is on the desk beside the computer.

Just my perspective, from a guy who grew up in the back country. No electricity. Wood heat. 1/2 mile of mud road. Mile walk to one room country school.

[Jim Becker]

Disagree.

Quality of life is much better now than 50 or more years ago.

I agree with disagreeing too. New cars today would be a lot cheaper if they were built like cars from 1964. The $2,350 car didn't have A/C or "power" anything. The seat was a bench that only adjusted one direction, if an automatic it only had 2 speeds, if there was a radio it was AM only. Bias tires with poor traction were good for maybe 20,000 miles. If you reached 80,000 miles without major engine work or 100,000 miles at all, you had bragging rights. It might or might not have even had seat belts for 2 people in the front.

[birddog]

Yes as Jim and Eugene pointed out, quality of life is better now in a lot of ways. But in some ways I agree with torchred89. Back in 69 when I bought my first new car (even though I was only making $1.50 an hour) it was a lot easier to make payments on the loan. Also then it was only a 2 year loan, not a 5 or 6 year loan like now.

[Eugene]

Things and life was simpler 50 years ago.

Many items are much less expensive now, than 50 years ago, specially electronic items. Compare the cost of TV sets.

1963 I was on a flight. Guy seated next to me had and was using a pocket calculator, which I had never seen. At that time the geeks in college were using slide rules.

I ask what the calculator cost and it the price would come down. Stated price was about the same as the plane ticket and that the price would not come down.

[v w]

Gas may have been only 30 cents but today taxes are about 42 cents here. Sales tax causes the tax to vary a little. I'm old enough to remember when a Cub was a brand new thing. Dad had an H but still had his team and worked them. Mother could drive thee H. An extra seat was on the tongue of horse drawn equipment. Guess who got to ride there. Some things are better now, mostly medicine, and some are not so good. For me the 1950's would be the best. I think there was a reason why the TV show Happy Days was set then. Vern