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News: Value of money fell by two-thirds over the past 30 years

Thu, 28 Feb 13

The value of money has fallen by 67 per cent in the past 30 years, according to Lloyds TSB Private Banking.

The lender’s research, using data from the Office for National Statistics, reveals that £1 million in 1982 would provide the same spending power as £3 million today. At the same time, the average price of a detached house is now six times higher compared with 1982.

A three-fold increase in retail prices means that someone today would need £299 to have the equivalent purchasing power of £100 in 1982. Conversely, £33.46 in1982 would provide the same spending power as £100 today. This means that someone would need £3 million today to enjoy the equivalent lifestyle of a person with £1 million in 1982.

The purchasing power of money has eroded at an average rate of 3.7% a year over the past 30 years. This is reflected in the changing cost of everyday items during this period. Based on calculations by Lloyds TSB Private Banking1, the prices of essential household items have risen substantially since 1982 with, for example, the average price for a loaf of bread increasing from 37p in 1982 to £1.24 in 2012; a more than three-fold rise.

The average price for a detached property has risen approximately six-fold over the same period from £45,211 to £273,7002, while a troy ounce of gold has risen by 439% from £203 in 1982 to £1,096 today. Similarly, fuel costs have also risen substantially with diesel prices now 294% higher than in 1982, while the price of coffee has risen by 176% from an average price of 97p to £2.68.

By decade, retail prices rose most rapidly between 1982 and 1992, increasing at an average annual rate of 5.5%. In contrast, the lowest inflation occurred between 1992 and 2002, with retail prices increasing at an average annual rate of 2.4% during the decade. Between 2002 and 2012, retail prices rose at an average of 3.3% a year.

Looking to the future, if retail prices were to rise by 2.8% annually, the value of money would decline by a further 56% over the next 30 years. In this event, someone would need £229 in 2042 to have the same spending power as an individual with £100 today - or nearly £2.3 million to enjoy the equivalent lifestyle of a person with £1 million today.

Nitesh Patel, economist at Lloyds TSB Private Banking, commented: 'The value of money has fallen substantially over the past 30 years as retail prices and the cost of many everyday items has soared. Someone today would need nearly £300 to have the same spending power of £100 in 1982, meaning someone breaking the million pound mark 30 years ago would have the equivalent of £3 million today.

'Looking to the future, even if inflation is kept firmly under control and rises only in line with the Government’s target, it is likely that the value of money will continue to reduce significantly and decline by more than half its value by 2042.'

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