|
|
In 1980 I wrote a small piece for the Valley News named 'The Good Old Days'. It was a tongue-in-cheek article and I started by suggesting to the reader that, 30 years hence, we might be amused with comparisons in the prices of everyday consumer items. Well 20 years have elapsed, the facts are certainly an eye-opener and could possibly be regarded as humourous, although with some of the items I am not sure whether one should laugh or cry. I
started by giving the price of petrol, a controversial issue at the
moment, which in 1980 was £1.30 a gallon and this I compared with the
1950 price of 15p a gallon. At the other extreme, the bank rate was
17 per cent with a mortgage costing a tidy 14% per cent. Other items
from our shopping bag in 1980 were as follows: |
||||
| Quarter lb PG Tips tea | 24p | The Times newspaper | 15p | ||
| 1 doz large eggs | 70p | 2lb granulated sugar | 33p | ||
| 1lb English Cheddar cheese | 90p | Bottle Bells whiskey | £4.80 | ||
| 1 ton house coal | £65 | First class letter post | 12p | ||
| Half lb butter | 50p | 20 cigarettes | 60p | ||
| 1lb best steak | £2.20 | 1 pint best bitter | 45p | ||
| A large sliced loaf | 30p | Colour TV licence | £34 | ||
| 1 pint milk | 18.5p | 2nd class return rail fare Heyford-Oxford | £1.26 | ||
|
These prices are average but with careful shopping around the discerning shopper may find more advantageous bargains. Likewise, if your groceries are delivered from Harrods you will probably be paying slightly more. P.S. The top-of-the-range Rolls Royce costs a mere £71,137. Brian
Scott-Smith | TOP | |
|||||
THE
GOOD OLD DAYS