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UK inflation: Britons were also being hit in the pocket 50 years ago

To left: Roger Daltrey's cigarettes would have cost 26.5p and Paul Nicholas's pint 18p in 1972. It was also the year Caberet hit the silver screen and a new Ford Cortina cost around ?1,000. Picture shows; Images from 1972. various. Supplied by Shutterstock/AJL
To left: Roger Daltrey's cigarettes would have cost 26.5p and Paul Nicholas's pint 18p in 1972. It was also the year Caberet hit the silver screen and a new Ford Cortina cost around ?1,000. Picture shows; Images from 1972. various. Supplied by Shutterstock/AJL

Half a century ago inflation was running at similar levels to this week, at around 7.1%, but against quite a different backdrop.

There was no war in Europe, of course, but oil prices were rising steeply — they tripled during the decade.

Trade unions were powerful and bargaining for wage hikes to keep pace, causing an inflationary spiral upwards to more than 25% in 1975.

Today’s trade unions are far less powerful but there are currents of industrial unrest, with London underground workers now striking over pay and conditions.

In 1972 the government introduced pay and price freezes to try to counter inflation.

Today the anti-inflation weapon of choice is hiking bank interest rates, forecast to reach 1.5% from their record low this year.

But that’s a far cry from the 1972 interest rate of 7.8%.

What was it like living in 1972?

Industrial unrest, the Cold War and the Troubles in Northern Ireland were the dominant, ever-present shadows on the news agenda.

Strikes by miners and dockers prompted Edward Heath’s government to declare two states of emergency, in January and July.

A miners' strike at Saltley Colliery in 1972.  Photo by Trevor Roberts/Daily Mail/Shutterstock.
A miners’ strike at Saltley Colliery in 1972.  Photo by Trevor Roberts/Daily Mail/Shutterstock.

The Official IRA bombed Aldershot Barracks in February.

Ugandan president Idi Amin expelled thousands of Asians to Britain, sparking a racist backlash.

The Winter Olympics were also on this month, with the UK failing to win a single medal— we’ve barely advanced there.

Car production peaked at 1.9m units, and Nissan began to surge with more than 30,000 Datsuns sold during the year.

Nissan Motor Co's Datsun 1000 sunny Coupe from 1972. Shutterstock.
Nissan Motor Co’s Datsun 1000 sunny Coupe from 1972. Shutterstock.

Tottenham beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in the first Uefa cup final.

Rangers took the European Cup Winners’ Cup, defeating Dynamo Moscow 3-2 in Barcelona, but a pitch invasion by their supporters led to the team being banned from defending their trophy the following year.

The first official Gay Pride march was held in London in July.

There was tragedy for the royal family when Prince William of Gloucester, a paternal cousin of the Queen and ninth in line to the throne, was killed in an air crash near Wolverhampton, aged 30.

The Duke of Windsor, the abdicated Edward VIII, died in Paris.

The beginning of iconic shows

The film Cabaret hit the silver screen, while Jesus Christ Superstar debuted in the West End.

Mastermind was broadcast for the first time, as was a new soap, Emmerdale Farm.

Author and Scottish nationalist Sir Compton Mackenzie died, and Ross County manager Malky Mackay came into the world.

Marc Bolan in Music in the Round 1972: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock.

The band T.Rex was rarely out of the charts with singles Telegram Sam and Metal Guru.

The Rolling Stones issued Exile On Main Street.

And the number one best-selling single of the year was Amazing Grace, by the Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Bear in mind that ÂŁ1 in 1972 was the equivalent of around ÂŁ10 today.

Average weekly earnings for men over 21 were ÂŁ36.60, and for women over 18 ÂŁ20.50.

The average house price was around ÂŁ4,000.

This shopping list from 1972 shows the prices of common goods and their equivalent today. retrowow.co.uk
This shopping list from 1972 shows the prices of common goods and their equivalent today. retrowow.co.uk

Cod cost 33p per pound, haddock 35p and herring 15p. Kippers were 21p per pound.

A first class stamp was 3p, second 2.5p.

Tabloid newspapers were around 3p.

A gallon of petrol was 35p (ÂŁ3.40)

A petrol station and sales forecourt from the 1970s. David Hartley/Shutterstock
A petrol station and sales forecourt from the 1970s. David Hartley/Shutterstock

A Raleigh chopper cost ÂŁ35.60 (ÂŁ340)

A package holiday in Spain cost from ÂŁ40 to ÂŁ150.

A colour TV cost an eye-watering £239   (£2,250).

Black and white TVs came in at ÂŁ67 (ÂŁ630).

A colour TV licence was ÂŁ12, black and white ÂŁ7.

Black and white TVs cost the equivalent of ÂŁ630 in 1972.
Black and white TVs cost the equivalent of £630 in 1972.  Yale Joel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A pocket calculator could set you back as much as ÂŁ95 (ÂŁ920).

A Ford Cortina cost ÂŁ1,022 (ÂŁ9,600).

Any good news?

If you’ve had the foresight to keep your 1970s clothes, or you can raid them from mum or gran’s wardrobe, you could save a bit of cash this year, as 1970s fashion is bang on trend and you’ll be the envy of your friends.

And if you’ve still got your hanging rattan chair, and perhaps a macrame pot holder or two, and let’s not even mention brown and orange geometric wallpaper, throw your doors open — you have the coolest living room in the neighbourhood.

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