What $1 Could Buy the Year You Were Born

In 2020, $1 can’t buy that much in terms of goods and services. However, you might be surprised at how much $1 could buy in the past. Remember when $1 could buy six Hershey’s chocolate bars? If you were alive in 1973, you might. What’s the cost of 3 gallons of gas today in your neighborhood? Eight dollars? Ten? In 1966, those 3 gallons were less than $1.

While these examples are fun to look at, they’re also an important representation of the devastating power of inflation. Over time, inflation reduces the purchasing power of a dollar, as exemplified by these various items. Ten or 20 years from now, you may look back yet again and be amazed at how “cheap” things were in 2020, as inflation will no doubt have driven prices higher still in the future.

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To see how much $1 could have purchased in the year you were born, GOBankingRates took a sample of prices from 1940 to 2020. For each year, you’ll see an example of a common good or service that cost about $1. The list is not only interesting but also educational, as it points out in black and white how the purchasing power of $1 declines over time. Check out your birth year and you may get a chuckle out of what $1 could buy in that year.

1940-1944

• 1940: School bag, $0.98
• 1941: 2-gallon aquarium, $0.98
• 1942: Women’s dress, $1.00
• 1943: Handbag, $1.00
• 1944: 3-piece toy set (doll, Klik-Klak and teether), $1.05

1945-1949

• 1945: B-29 Boeing Super Fortress Bomber model kit, $0.95
• 1946: 2 RCA Victor records, $0.89
• 1947: Apple tree, $0.98
• 1948: Men’s belt, $0.94
• 1949: Boy’s cotton shirt, $0.97

1950-1954

• 1950: Throw pillow, $0.80
• 1951: Baseball cap, $0.95
• 1952: 1 cake pan & 6 custard cups, $1.05
• 1953: 1 quart of paint, $0.98
• 1954: 4-piece screwdriver set, $0.98

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1955-1959

• 1955: 2 McDonald’s meals (1 burger, fries and soda), $0.70
• 1956: Hair spray, $1.05
• 1957: Baby gown, $0.87
• 1958: Bath towel, $0.91
• 1959: Pitcher, $0.91

1960-1964

• 1960: Tights/nylons, $0.94
• 1961: 2 Sunday New York Times, $1.00
• 1962: 1 yard of fabric, $0.94
• 1963: Movie ticket, $0.86
• 1964: 2,000 cigarette papers, $0.97

1965-1969

• 1965: Rifle carrying case, $0.88
• 1966: 3 gallons of gas, $0.96
• 1967: 2 Big Macs, $0.90
• 1968: Baby blanket, $1.00
• 1969: Set of greeting cards, $0.99

1970-1974

• 1970: 2 pillowcases, $0.88
• 1971: Rake, $1.09
• 1972: Wrench, $0.98
• 1973: 6 Hershey’s bars, $0.90
• 1974: Barbie outfit, $0.77

1975-1979

• 1975: 50 vitamins, $1.00
• 1976: Knee socks, $0.99
• 1977: Skein of yarn, $0.97
• 1978: 6 first-class postage stamps, $0.90
• 1979: 8 guitar picks, $0.98

1980-1984

• 1980: 1/2 gallon milk, $1.02
• 1981: 1 dozen eggs, $0.97
• 1982: Pack of cigarettes, $0.82
• 1983: 2 D batteries, $0.99
• 1984: 1 pound of grapes, $0.99

1985-1989

• 1985: California Lottery ticket, $1
• 1986: 3 shots of bourbon, $0.97
• 1987: 2 bags of gift wrapping bows, $1
• 1988: 4 packs of gum, $1
• 1989: 1 gallon of gas, $1

1990-1994

• 1990: 1 share of Microsoft, $0.94
• 1991: 1 share of Disney, $1
• 1992: 1/2 pound bacon, $0.93
• 1993: 4 vending machine toys/gumballs, $1
• 1994: 1/2 bag of potato chips, $1

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1995-1999

• 1995: Ballpoint pen ink refill, $1
• 1996: 1/2 pound chicken breast, $0.96
• 1997: Die-cast Nascar model, $1.33
• 1998: 2 liters cola, $0.98
• 1999: 11 green Lego bricks, $0.98

2000-2004

• 2000: Loaf of bread, $0.99
• 2001: Postage for three letters, $1.02
• 2002: Taco Bell bean burrito, $0.69
• 2003: Ticket to Blink-182’s DollaBill Tour, $1
• 2004: 1 share of Apple, $0.94

2005-2009

• 2005: 10 KWHs electricity, $1
• 2006: 2 pounds bananas, $0.96
• 2007: iTunes track, $0.99
• 2008: Slice of New York pizza, $1
• 2009: 1/2 a weekday New York Times, $1

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2010-2014

• 2010: 1/3 gallon of gas, $0.93
• 2011: 1/3 pound ground beef, $1
• 2012: Fitness app, $0.99
• 2013: 1 pound of navel oranges, $1
• 2014: 1 car air freshener, $1

2015-2019

• 2015: 50GB of storage (iCloud), $0.99
• 2016: Shot of whiskey, $0.99
• 2017: Makeup brush set, $0.89
• 2018: A dozen Krispy Kreme donuts, $1
• 2019: 4 dry erase markers, $1

2020

• 2020: Wendy’s Frosty (small), $0.99

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Photos are for representational purposes only.

About the Author

John Csiszar

After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.

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