Where did it all go so horribly wrong?

[Pond digger]

We went to a 40th wedding anniversary a few weeks back; there was a memory board showing photos, and various reminders of the way things were back in 1978. One thing that caught my attention was a cost of living comparator. Everything had gone up of course, but not all by the same degree-

1978 2018
Weekly income £46. £535.
3bed house. £19,000. £227,874
Pint of Beer £0.59. £3.60
Cheese (lb). £1.10. £3.38
Bacon (lb). £1.18. £3.34

So; weekly income x 11, house x 12, bacon & cheese x 3!!

 

[Pond digger]

well that didn’t come out as it was posted; looks a right jumble, but hopefully you’ll get the drift.

 

[Grain Buyer]

I hate to quote Macmillan (not Thatcher) but we’ve never had it so good!

Its not gone wrong, why do you think it has??

 

[Pond digger]

I hate to quote Thatcher, but we’ve never had it so good!

Its not gone wrong, why do you think it has??

Depends on your perspective; I’m looking at it from a farmers point of view.

 

[Grain Buyer]

Oh, just read it again “as a farmer” rather then a member of the public. What your getting at is houses are up 11 fold whilst cheese is up 3 times, hence you’re not making as much money. Sorry, but as a member of the public, everything is great.

 

[franklin]

Sorry, but as a member of the public, everything is great.

Unless you want to buy a home. Or think you are going to get to retire.

It's great for certain members of the public. Not so for many.

 

[primmiemoo]

My late Father got the modern equivalent of £150/head for fat lamb in June in 1975!
He also had a milk cheque underwritten by the Milk Board.
Not sure how much the Ag Wages Board wage he paid his two GFWs - each employed half a week.

Cheap food policy needs balancing.

 

[7610 super q]

Life is great for the great British public..........unless they have to start repaying debt....

 

[franklin]

Perhaps we need to stick an Apple logo on loaves of bread. Market it as iFood. Public would pay silly money then.

 

[7610 super q]

Anyhoo........where did it go wrong ?

CAP.
Supermarkets.

 

[Lincsman]

What was the price of a tulip bulb in 1637 compared to now?

 

[franklin]

Anyhoo........where did it go wrong ?

Food takes an ever smaller % of household income. Is it not scarce. Food money is whats left after mortgage, electric, council tax, clothes, holidays, iPhones. Only solution is more scarcity.

 

[Gong Farmer]

I would never have paid 59p for a pint back then. 30p was my limit.

 

[franklin]

That was the price of a tulip bulb in 1637 compared to now?

Greater fool theory.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

if you are happy to produce it for 10p, then dont expect 20p
You got to big and to efficient

 

[7610 super q]

All this farmer bashing is very honourable, but if we want a prosperous 21st Century industry, then we need 21st Century prices.
Keeping 10,000 cows to make a billion pound turnover, and be left with 20p profit is ridiculous.

 

[The Ruminant]

I would never have paid 59p for a pint back then. 30p was my limit.

I was only paying 59p a pint ten years later. Mind you, that was McEwen’s Export, in the local cinema bar and it was a disgusting pint. The better lager(!) in the town was 70p a pint.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Maybe there needs to be some mechanism to encourage oversupply of skilled labour and housing?

My late Father got the modern equivalent of £150/head for fat lamb in June in 1975!
He also had a milk cheque underwritten by the Milk Board.
Not sure how much the Ag Wages Board wage he paid his two GFWs - each employed half a week.

Cheap food policy needs balancing.

Nearest I could find for NZ farmgate price for balance

if you are happy to produce it for 10p, then dont expect 20p
You got to big and to efficient

^^^^^^ this.

 

[DeeGee]

Oh, just read it again “as a farmer” rather then a member of the public. What your getting at is houses are up 11 fold whilst cheese is up 3 times, hence you’re not making as much money. Sorry, but as a member of the public, everything is great.

Not if you are a young person or even a couple trying to buy your first home it isn’t.

 

[Sid]

Grandfather said a lamb would pay a mans wages in the early 50's?
Who would work for that now?