Jim, actually $100 1950 gold would be much higher than $1600. I believe that gold was $35 oz. back then (but US citizens couldn't own bullion), so today's gold @ $1657 per oz would bring $4,734.

When I was a kid, my Dad used to tell me that when he was a kid, his mother would send him to the grocery store with a dollar, and he came back with almost more than he could carry. What he didn't consider was how long his father had to work for that dollar back then in the 1930's Texas. Another thing - Hell, he was a kid, probably couldn't carry a great number of groceries anyway!

No doubt that we've had inflation, etc., but wages and earning have inflated as well. Maybe not in ratio, but comparing purchasing power of 1950 $s, you've got to compare average earning of that time.

If we revalued the $, so that 1 new $ = 20 present $s You could buy gas for about 17.5¢ a gallon. Of course average per hour wages (not minimum wages) would be $1.17 ! Sounds like 1950 all over again.