4 ms·

Experiencing inflation in my lifetime has been interesting. When I was a kid in the 80s, a quarter meant a Hershey's bar or a game of Pac-Man. I remember my dad

Experiencing inflation in my lifetime has been interesting. When I was a kid in the 80s, a quarter meant a Hershey's bar or a game of Pac-Man. I remember my dad telling me that when he was a kid, Hershey's were a nickel, and a lot larger. Of course I didn't believe him. Then over the years candy just jumped up in price every decade. 50 cents, then 75, then it stalled at $1 for a long time it seemed, to today's $1.50. Two responses to this comment: Wow, only 25 cents or, Wow, you eat that vomit-odor sludge?? inevitably setting off yet another chocolate thread. Not my point.

ggm 4y ago
You have to post the inflationary measure of the nickel at some basis of purchasing parity. I'm not sure either chocolate or arcade games can do it. It's quite likely both have undergone huge expected shifts in the basket of goods informing inflation. The decline of metal money plays a bit here too. I was really shocked when I realised that the only coins I am using feed meters and buskers. I haven't withdrawn money from an ATM in almost a year. Buskers use stripe. So does the street market for vegetables I use weekly. Even tax avoiding niches are now almost solely online. Swiping for $2 and avoiding any overt tariff and paying $2 in service charges for $20 of trade makes $2 the new 15c
- 082349872349872 4y ago
  One unexpected side benefit of having left the Old Country is that (the smallest folding denomination being larger than 1) coins are actually worth something: small shop purchase, short taxi ride, quick snack, etc.
tablespoon 4y ago
> I remember my dad telling me that when he was a kid, Hershey's were a nickel, and a lot larger. IIRC, for a long time Hershey's always sold a 5¢ candy-bar, and regularly varied the size based on their costs. They even occasionally got larger if their costs dropped. I believe it was some thing about wanting every kid to be able to afford a candy bar. I think they gave up when the most they could do was a halloween-candy/"fun size" bar.
Fricken 4y ago
I recall spending $86 on a pair of Gap jeans in 1992. It was a lot of money back then, I was 15 and had no job. Checking out the Gap site, a pair of new Jeans today cost $99 CDN.
- bombcar 4y ago
  It can be hard to determine if they’re really “the same” as many items have changed to keep similar price points. I know there’s bowling about Levis.
- petodo 4y ago
  Same experience here, back in 90s my decent leather branded sneakers (Adidas/Nike) could cost easily in my country like 1/4th of minimum wage, now you can buy same brands similar quality models for like 1/12th of minimum wage, so these branded sneakers are much more accessible. Let alone novels for kids, noname brands cost maybe 20-30% less, but the difference is actually just few euros so not really worth buying noname for kids.

ggm 4y ago

You have to post the inflationary measure of the nickel at some basis of purchasing parity. I'm not sure either chocolate or arcade games can do it. It's quite likely both have undergone huge expected shifts in the basket of goods informing inflation. The decline of metal money plays a bit here too. I was really shocked when I realised that the only coins I am using feed meters and buskers. I haven't withdrawn money from an ATM in almost a year. Buskers use stripe. So does the street market for vegetables I use weekly. Even tax avoiding niches are now almost solely online. Swiping for $2 and avoiding any overt tariff and paying $2 in service charges for $20 of trade makes $2 the new 15c

082349872349872 4y ago
One unexpected side benefit of having left the Old Country is that (the smallest folding denomination being larger than 1) coins are actually worth something: small shop purchase, short taxi ride, quick snack, etc.

tablespoon 4y ago

> I remember my dad telling me that when he was a kid, Hershey's were a nickel, and a lot larger. IIRC, for a long time Hershey's always sold a 5¢ candy-bar, and regularly varied the size based on their costs. They even occasionally got larger if their costs dropped. I believe it was some thing about wanting every kid to be able to afford a candy bar. I think they gave up when the most they could do was a halloween-candy/"fun size" bar.

Fricken 4y ago

I recall spending $86 on a pair of Gap jeans in 1992. It was a lot of money back then, I was 15 and had no job. Checking out the Gap site, a pair of new Jeans today cost $99 CDN.

bombcar 4y ago
It can be hard to determine if they’re really “the same” as many items have changed to keep similar price points. I know there’s bowling about Levis.
petodo 4y ago
Same experience here, back in 90s my decent leather branded sneakers (Adidas/Nike) could cost easily in my country like 1/4th of minimum wage, now you can buy same brands similar quality models for like 1/12th of minimum wage, so these branded sneakers are much more accessible. Let alone novels for kids, noname brands cost maybe 20-30% less, but the difference is actually just few euros so not really worth buying noname for kids.