Original McDonalds Menu...

[joboo]

Was reading there's a Big Mac index now to gauge cost of living between countries.

I would imagine these prices are from approx 1950. ~ 10 - 15 times more expensive in ~ 60 years.

http://cdn-www.i-am-bored.com/media/oldmcdmenu.jpg
http://aipetcher.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/mc_donald_drive_in.jpghttp://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5319786258_3ba82d1282.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5319787512_74e8f67e3b.jpg
http://taraheiser.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/mcdonalds.jpg
http://content.answcdn.com/main/content/img/getty/2/1/2696721.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3418/3795446477_364f439112_z.jpg

[solid]

Was reading there's a Big Mac index now to gauge cost of living between countries.

I would imagine these prices are from approx 1950. ~ 10 - 15 times more expensive in ~ 60 years. \

I think you are pretty close. A triple thick shake is 20 cents, ie back then...2 silver dimes. 2 silver dimes are worth roughly $4.50. Do the math. A beef hamburger was 15 cents...ie, $3.50 now in silver dimes.

Accurate, I'd say.

Note to self...keep buying silver. :)

[milehi]

If you're lighter than a brown paper sack, it's wise not to visit 14th and "E" in 'Berdoo. It doesn't matter if you run into the natives or the cops; it's gonna be unpleasant.

[ximmy]

I imagine the food was of higher quality then... ??

[sirgonzo420]

I imagine the food was of higher quality then... ?? "U.S. GOVERNMENT INSPECTED BEEF ONLY!" declares the sign in the picture. lol

[MNeagle]

I imagine the food was of higher quality then... ??

I'd say yes, long before the days of Frankenfood...

[joboo]

I suppose another thing to consider is the quality of their food has gone down substantially.

I wonder how much McD's would charge today for the quality of food they used to produce...i.e. non gov subsidized corn fed/fabricated everything.

Perhaps add another 30-40% on top of today's prices?

[chad]

i was going to post the exact same sentence gonzo did. :D

[ximmy]

Trip out on that weird hamburger icon... freaky!
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/cinzia326/IMG_7268.jpg

[willie pete]

If you're lighter than a brown paper sack, it's wise not to visit 14th and "E" in 'Berdoo. It doesn't matter if you run into the natives or the cops; it's gonna be unpleasant.

yea....the hood looks a little ghetto...

[Libertytree]

There's a huge difference in the McD's of today and that of yesteryear, not only McD's but other joints as well, burger King, Burger Queen, A&B etc...

McD's did have toasted buns and your burger was made to order, add 5¢ per burger and make it a triple for 25¢! In the mid 70's the Q lb'er came out and it was a kick ass product! IDK WTF happened but as we all know it's all went to shit..maybe it's too much .gov or monetary policy in a shrinking economy but there was a day and time when "fast food" was NOT a slur or a term you'd avoid.

[steyr_m]

I would eat at the original McDonalds, and probably would until about 1970 -- after that, not so much.

[lapis]

I imagine the food was of higher quality then... ??

Yes, the hamburgers didn't contain soy protein and the cheese trans-fats. And I'll bet the milkshakes contained significant amounts of real milk and cream, and no HFCS obviously.

[AndreaGail]

Yes, the hamburgers didn't contain soy protein and the cheese trans-fats. And I'll bet the milkshakes contained significant amounts of real milk and cream, and no HFCS obviously.

Its amazing where that stuff is

At my old job we served milkshakes, and the 3 main ingredients Ice Cream, chocolate milk, and chololate sauce ALL contained HFCS (I mean corn sugar ::))

[joboo]

GIM eye.

http://slowpokecomics.com/strips/mcdonaldsfarm.png

The omnivores dilemma is a good read.

[joboo]

The cost of raising a child in 1995 averaged $145,000. Today it costs $227,000.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4f9edbae69bedd6102000008-590/the-cost-of-raising-a-child-in-1995-averaged-145000-today-it-costs-227000.jpg
LoraxV on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/frekur/2154857733/)

Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture (http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/expendituresonchildrenbyfamilies.htm)

An ounce of gold sold for $58 in 1972. Today it costs $1,664.

http://static8.businessinsider.com/image/4d621f58cadcbb1142040000-590/an-ounce-of-gold-sold-for-58-in-1972-today-it-costs-1664.jpg
Source: Goldprice.net (http://www.goldprice.net/historical-gold-prices.php)

The price of one U.S. stamp in 1971 was 8 cents. Today it is 45 cents.

http://static7.businessinsider.com/image/4f9ac79aeab8ea515f000013-590/the-price-of-one-us-stamp-in-1971-was-8-cents-today-it-is-45-cents.jpg
Flickr / Whatknot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/whatknot/456405212/in/photostream/)



A pack of cigarettes sold for 45 cents in 1968. Today it costs up to $11.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4f9acfcbecad04212f000009-590/a-pack-of-cigarettes-sold-for-45-cents-in-1968-today-it-costs-up-to-11.jpg
Flickr / squishband (http://www.flickr.com/photos/squishband/703591368/in/photostream/)

Source: The Evening Independent, March 19, 1968 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xLVaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TFcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6218,3754760&dq=cigarette+cost+45+cents&hl=en)

The price of tuition at Yale was $1,950 in 1967. Today it is $38,300.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4f99b62decad04612b000008-590/the-price-of-tuition-at-yale-was-1950-in-1967-today-it-is-38300.jpg
Flickr / InAweofGod'sCreation (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nhoulihan/4519120057/in/photostream/)

Sources: The Robesonian, "College Tuition Costs On Rise," Feb. 1, 1967 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TWdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kVcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=7035,1630816&dq=college+tuition&hl=en) and FindTheBest (http://colleges.findthebest.com/l/785/Yale-University).

The median new home in 1963 cost $17,200. Today it is about $212,000.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4f9af8ef69bedde130000040-590/the-median-new-home-in-1963-cost-17200-today-it-is-about-212000.jpg
Flickr / roger4336 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24736216@N07/4643850466/in/photostream/)

Source: U.S. Census (http://www.census.gov/const/uspricemon.pdf)

A movie ticket cost 50 cents in 1962. Today it costs as much as $13.

http://static7.businessinsider.com/image/4f9ec327ecad04bf3c000008-590/a-movie-ticket-cost-50-cents-in-1962-today-it-costs-as-much-as-13.jpg
John McNab on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmcnab/5000606931/)

Source: Baby Boomer Headquarters (http://www.bbhq.com/prices.htm)


A child's ticket to Disneyland cost 35 cents in 1956. Today it costs $80.

http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4f9ecfb5eab8ea3157000007-590/a-childs-ticket-to-disneyland-cost-35-cents-in-1956-today-it-costs-80.jpg

[joboo]

A 24-pack of Budweiser cost $2.93 in 1954. Today it costs $19.99.

http://static7.businessinsider.com/image/4f99a97b69bedd480b00000e-590/a-24-pack-of-budweiser-cost-293-in-1954-today-it-costs-1999.jpg
Flickr / Whatknot (http://www.flickr.com/photos/whatknot/13914384/in/photostream/)

Source: Predatory Pricing In A Market Economy (http://books.google.com/books?id=9jIMfXJ27XQC&pg=PA255&lpg=PA255&dq=budweiser+price+1954&source=bl&ots=RC1_3DSKCD&sig=FbAf7yLJq9Tfgtx0K3vJCsdj2BU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2b6eT7HZGuP06AHa95iBDw&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=budweiser%20price%201954&f=false)


The average price of a new car in 1950 was $1,510. Today it is $30,748.

http://static7.businessinsider.com/image/4f99c5876bb3f7cc4100000c-590/the-average-price-of-a-new-car-in-1950-was-1510-today-it-is-30748.jpg
Flickr / Basic Transporter (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40482212@N07/4893976272/in/photostream/)

Sources: The People History (http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1950s.html) and Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/11/average-price-of-new-cars-hits-all-time-record/)

A box of Corn Flakes cost 12 cents in 1945. Today a similar sized box costs $3.79.

http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/4f9ec4f5ecad04e242000001-590/a-box-of-corn-flakes-cost-12-cents-in-1945-today-a-similar-sized-box-costs-379.jpg
Source: Food Timeline (http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html)

The price of a Coca-Cola bottle in 1944 was 5 cents. Today a similar size bottle costs 89 cents.

http://static8.businessinsider.com/image/4f99af62ecad04a71e00000d-590/the-price-of-a-coca-cola-bottle-in-1944-was-5-cents-today-a-similar-size-bottle-costs-89-cents.jpg
Flickr / Kassie Mary (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kassiemary/5590891689/in/photostream/)

Source: Food Timeline (http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html) and WSJ (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903374004576578980270401662.html)


A Hershey Bar sold for 5 cents in 1937. A similar size bar costs 99 cents today.

http://static7.businessinsider.com/image/4f9ec54cecad04bb42000007-590/a-hershey-bar-sold-for-5-cents-in-1937-a-similar-size-bar-costs-99-cents-today.jpg
PhotosNormandie on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnormandie/2903030644/)

Source: Food Timeline (http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodfaq5.html)

The price of gas in 1923 was 21 cents per gallon. Today it averages $3.84 per gallon.

http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/4f99ba8a6bb3f7bd34000000-590/the-price-of-gas-in-1923-was-21-cents-per-gallon-today-it-averages-384-per-gallon.jpg
Flickr / Nordiska museet (http://www.flickr.com/photos/34380191@N08/4741235549/in/photostream/)

Source: The Evening Independent, Aug. 14, 1923 (http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3OJPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=21QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5799,3243610&dq=price+of+gas&hl=en) and AAA (http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/?redirectto=http://fuelgaugereport.opisnet.com/index.asp)

[solid]

Joboo, most of those prices you listed (give or take) on average around a 20 times price increase.

Price of a 1964 quarter: 25 cents

Price of a 1964 quarter today: just a bit more than 20 times that, $5.50.

Amazing. This just gave me so much confidence in holding silver, I am just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

[joboo]

Joboo, most of those prices you listed (give or take) on average around a 20 times price increase.

Price of a 1964 quarter: 25 cents

Price of a 1964 quarter today: just a bit more than 20 times that, $5.50.

Amazing. This just gave me so much confidence in holding silver, I am just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

What amazes me is for the first time ever all the central banks globally are printing money now like there's no tomorrow. Inflation mania.

Mathematically speaking the next 20x bump should come around a lot sooner.