Prices and Wages by Decade: 2020-present
Links to government documents and primary sources listing retail prices for products and services, as well as wages for common occupations.
Wages in the United States, 2020
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Average earnings by occupation, most current data availableData from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics series.
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Agriculture - Farm labor wages, 1930-presentThe periodical Farm Labor has been in publication for nearly 90 years. It was originally published monthly, and then became a quarterly. The Hathi Trust digital library has these issues as well.
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Military pay charts (US), 1908-presentThis is not a government website but it does a good job of organizing a complex topic. For original government documents showing pay, contact us.
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Missouri teacher salaries, 2005-presentData online from the Missouri chapter of the NEA (National Education Administration).
Prices in the United States, 2020
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Average Retail Food and Energy Prices, 1980-2020Prices for meats, fruits, vegetables, bread, eggs, milk and more foods, as well as gasoline, electricity, natural gas and other residential energy. To view data back to 1980, click the green "Historical Data" icon in the rows, then use drop-down boxes near the top of the page to set start and end years.
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New car prices for the 2020s according to NADAManufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRP) for cars and trucks are available through the NADA website. Choose a make, year, and body type. Select a car then enter any zip code. Click "Get Base Values" to see the original suggested retail price.
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Gasoline prices, 1983-2020Shows gasoline retail price data by state, region, or for the whole U.S. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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Cost to mail a letter or postcard, 1863-presentSource: the Historian of the U.S. Postal Service.
Buying power of historic wages expressed in today's dollars
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Consumer Price Index Inflation CalculatorThis calculator allows you to compare the buying power of wages earned at different points in history. For example, a dollar earned in 2016 had the same buying power as 4 cents in 1913. Conversely, a dollar earned in 1913 had the same buying power as $24.24 in the year 2016.
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Reference service is available Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Marie Concannon, Government Information Librarian
Government Documents Department
106B Ellis Library (1st Floor East)
University of Missouri, Columbia
Phone (573) 882-0748
