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Inflation the last 50 years
Posted on 10/6/25 at 9:52 pm
Posted on 10/6/25 at 9:52 pm
A few weeks ago we had a clown(I forgot his name) come on the OT saying how much harder the people from 1975-2000 had it (because of inflation) than the people from 2000-2025. I say he was a clown, because he was so sure of himself he wouldn’t listen to any arguments. He claimed inflation was much worse overall in the previous 25 year period. I don’t know about food and items like that? My issue had to do with 3 areas that are more expensive in total cost. They are healthcare, housing and auto costs. These are all non negotiable costs for families in the US. I also feel like technology has increased the cost of living. We had a much simpler life when I was growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. Here are 3 charts that I think show how expensive things are now versus 50 years ago. It shows how it’s become worse as our money has lost its value(buying power). It’s all inflation adjusted. I feel it partially disproves his point anyway.
20
Posted on 10/6/25 at 9:54 pm to Sofaking2
Pft I’m not reading all that
Posted on 10/6/25 at 10:00 pm to Sofaking2
quote:
A few weeks ago we had a clown(I forgot his name) come on the OT saying how much harder the people from 1975-2000 had it (because of inflation) than the people from 2000-2025.
That’s like 70% of this website now
Posted on 10/6/25 at 10:04 pm to Sofaking2
What have the average home size and finishes done in this timeframe?
This post was edited on 10/6/25 at 10:05 pm
Posted on 10/6/25 at 10:52 pm to nugget
quote:
What have the average home size and finishes done in this timeframe?
Exactly . . . Throw in medical advancements and technical advances for cars as well.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 12:38 am to Sofaking2
Now do income.
$20k a year was good money in 1974 if you could find it. The labor market was crowded. Union insulator helpers made $5 per hour, and I thought that I had a summer job as a helper. I would have been "rich" with that kind of money in college
$20k a year was good money in 1974 if you could find it. The labor market was crowded. Union insulator helpers made $5 per hour, and I thought that I had a summer job as a helper. I would have been "rich" with that kind of money in college
Posted on 10/7/25 at 12:41 am to nugget
quote:
What have the average home size and finishes done in this timeframe?
The home I live in is originally 1600 square feet and built as a one bath 3 bedroom for the site manager of Exxon Baton Rouge. If built in 1974 it would have had prefinished paneling for walls and shag carpet.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 12:43 am to Sofaking2
It was a miracle for a 1974 car to make 100,000 miles. Getting over 50,000 without any major repairs was quite lucky
Posted on 10/7/25 at 2:42 am to CitizenK
quote:But you and a neighbor could do those repairs yourself in your driveway with the manufacturer's book from Auto Zone and a case of beer. Now it's 10K and some guy needs three computers just to diagnose the problem.
It was a miracle for a 1974 car to make 100,000 miles. Getting over 50,000 without any major repairs was quite lucky
This post was edited on 10/7/25 at 2:43 am
Posted on 10/7/25 at 2:50 am to Sofaking2
The biggest issue isn’t inflation, it’s what people today think they ‘need’ or are entitled to ‘have’.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 3:23 am to Sofaking2
A 1974 car was a safety nightmare that guzzled gas. Some of them came pre - rusted from the factory. Reliability was a crapshoot.
Your car today is more expensive in part because it’s many times superior to the product of earlier days.
Your car today is more expensive in part because it’s many times superior to the product of earlier days.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 3:44 am to CitizenK
quote:
$20k a year was good money in 1974 if you could find it. The labor market was crowded. Union insulator helpers made $5 per hour, and I thought that I had a summer job as a helper. I would have been "rich" with that kind of money in college
20k in 1974 = 130k in 2025 dollars
5/hr = 31.28/hr
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:04 am to CitizenK
We had a 1973 Chevy Nova that died at 98 or 99K.
Had to pull the drive shaft off to tow it back to NO.
Had to pull the drive shaft off to tow it back to NO.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:25 am to RanchoLaPuerto
Anything early 70s to mid 80s was half-assed junk.
Trashy emissions systems, spotty build quality, piss-poor QV, terrible handling...
Japanese stuff was decent by the early 80s, Korean stuff was trash. Domestic stuff was a crapshoot. Chrysler products were rusting before you drove it off the lot.
Trashy emissions systems, spotty build quality, piss-poor QV, terrible handling...
Japanese stuff was decent by the early 80s, Korean stuff was trash. Domestic stuff was a crapshoot. Chrysler products were rusting before you drove it off the lot.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:32 am to Sofaking2
How dare you attack me with I formation that 1975 was as far away from 2000 as the current year is. I feel accosted
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:33 am to nugget
quote:
What have the average home size and finishes done in this timeframe?
And? How does this help your point? Builders aren’t building new 900 ft^2, 2 bedroom 1 bath anymore.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 5:50 am to armytiger96
quote:
medical advancement
Have also made shite easier.
Arthroscopic surgery.
Imaging
Various monitors that used to require nurses..
Fact is all shits more expensive.
Because, we have millions of idle people in this country who consume, yet produce nothing.
More demand, less production.
Its the main reason shits more expensive.
Say what will about dollar, but all currency is fricked. Its a wash.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 6:33 am to CitizenK
quote:Not quite true when compared to 1954 models.
It was a miracle for a 1974 car to make 100,000 miles.
Drive a stock 1954 Chevrolet pickup then drive a 1974 stock Chevrolet pickup in the same condition and compare the difference.
The 1954 truck experience is like driving a forklift in mud.
The 74 functions much better.
Build quality in ‘74 admittedly was shite but part of the reason cars weren’t reliable was the Feds started with the mandatory emissions shite.
We got way over 100k out of our ‘73 Impala and our ‘74 Maverick during my adolescence that the old man bought new. Without any major mechanical issues and not much maintenance.
Posted on 10/7/25 at 7:09 am to Sofaking2
The problem with this comparison is the average car from the late 90’s is no where near the average car today. Same with housing…a “starter” home today would have been considered a mansion in the 90’s.
Inflation is bad, but the bigger problem is the unrealistic expectation of the average American.
Inflation is bad, but the bigger problem is the unrealistic expectation of the average American.
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