[ARC5] Inflation, radios, and cars

[Robert Eleazer]

One reason it is difficult to compare is that today you can buy things that you could not buy for any price years ago.  What would a rather pedestrian 2.4 GHZ computer been worth in 1946?

But that goes both ways.  I have an ad out of QST for a place called Radio Shack in 1946 that shows a full set of brand new SCR-274-N components, including 3 receivers, two transmitters, and all the control boxes for $39.95.

Now, around 1980, buying all that gear at a southern Cailf ham swap meet might have have cost you a total of maybe $15.00; it would have not been new, but probably in pretty good shape, unhacked.  Today imagine what it would be worth.  Certainly a lot more than you would pay for a 2.4 GHZ computer.

As for cars, did y'all hear about the new VW that is going to be built in China for that market? Single seat, carbon fiber body, bubble canopy like a P-51D, 1 cylinder diesel engine, gets 250 mpg, at a sales price of $600.  And that is not a typo, SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS.  

Y'all have a good weekend.


Wayne, WB5WSV