I pulled an article from the April 2012 Report on Business magazine, comparing prices from now to 1987. It was fairly interesting. Here’s a few of the highlights.
Cheaper now than 1987
- Top of the line Apple computer
- Microwave
- Large screen T.V
- Ralph Lauren Women’s Cotton Shirt
More expensive than 1987
- Harvey’s Hamburger and fries – 6.76 now vs 2.13 then.
- Basic cable – 38 now vs 10 to 12 then
- Bottle of Dom Perignon – 220 now vs. 85.25 then
Way way more expensive than 1987
Toronto home – 481,000 vs 195,000!
It also indicated the average Canadian family income was 37,118 in 1987, and it’s 62,500 now (well, as of 2009 according to Stats Canada). I’m guessing it’s both inflation and the fact there are more 2 income families that have made it rise.
Did you find this interesting? Anything surprise you? I knew fast food was getting more expensive! 
I never would have guessed the Apple computer would have been cheaper now. That is really interesting.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..Six Ways to Reuse Your Plastic Grocery Bags
It is quite interesting how some products increase in price way faster than inflation and others manage to drop in price. Technology dropping in price makes a lot of sense since they can find ways to make it cheaper and the increased competition lowers prices. That is a crazy price difference for fast food though. The skyrocketing fast food prices at least make it easier for me to resist going out to buy lunch regularly.
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ahhhh 1987! twas a great year. I graduated that year
Crazy how much the house prices went up.
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I was born in 1987
I would have expected everything to increase in price…one thing is for certain, TUITION has skyrocketed. It has far surpassed inflation. It sucks living in this time…unless you’re a billionaire, then you’ve got it made with the low interest rates right now!
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It doesn’t really surprise me, damn inflation! I sure wish my parents could have bought more than one property when we were younger, what a great investment especially here in Vancouver!
Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses recently posted..My New TV Obsession – The Young Apprentice
Miss T – yup, as MM says, technology is about the only thing that’s dropped in price.
MM – Yes, I was on course this week, so I bought lunch. Cheapest option was 3.50 and most expensive was 8 bucks. Tomorrow it’s back to lugging the lunch in!
Jolie – agreed. I am still in awe at the skyrocketing house prices.
SS – okay, you just made me feel old.
Mo – yes, very true. My parents will stand to make a pretty penny on their house when the time comes to sell.
Ah – the computer one does not surprise me in the least! There’s probably more computing power in my super old BB than there was in our first family computer! That thing cost $5000… think of the inflation on that! $6,585.76 today, according to the BoC inflation calculator. My last two cars cost less than that!
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Yes, computers are definitely something where now pay less and get more!
I can’t imagine still getting my on my old Commodore 64. 
What surprised me the most: Top of the line apple computer is cheaper today then it was in 1987 and that a hamburger is more expensive nowadays. What’s up with that? My husband and I are DINC’ERS (pronounced dinkers): Double Income No Children, and I can see how that would make inflation rise!
-Nurse Frugal
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When I read the title (before the article), I knew Apple was going to be on here.
However, I’m NOT surprised that its cheaper now than it was in 1987. Every year technology is getting less and less expensive. Ten years ago, laptops were a big deal, today every 16 yr old has one, and desktops are virtually becoming obsolete.
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I’m not surprised that things that were new back then were more expensive than they are now.
But I think it’s great to look back and see what the newest toys were back then that people were willing to throw down serious money for!
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