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When I was a kid back in the early 50's a candy bar cost a nickel. Today the same candy bar costs 79 cents most places, although you can get them cheaper in bulk.
But using the ordinary retail price of a single candy bar as the yardstick, how have prices really changed in the last half century?
The average house back then cost around 180,000 candy bars. Today's average house costs almost exactly the same.
A top of the line TV set back then cost around 5,000 candy bars. Today a good TV set can be picked up for a mere 400 or 500 candy bars.
In 1955 a paperback novel cost between 5 and 7 candy bars. Today's paperback novel costs a little more at between 8 and 9 candy bars.
A loaf of bread used to cost 5 candy bars, but only costs 4 candy bars today.
A gallon of gas was also 5 candy bars, but can be bought today for the bargain price of 2.5 candy bars, half it's 1955 cost, in spite of recent "high" prices.
I remember getting into the movies for the price of 4 candy bars. Today the bargain show costs 6 or 7 candy bars at least.
On the other hand, a computer which used to cost hundreds of millions of candy bars can be had for under a thousand candy bars today.
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