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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Research

Research

How to Find Historical Prices

By Steve Laubeon October 3, 2022
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With inflation in the news, it is becoming a bit more difficult to calculate the current buying power of a dollar when compared to the past. (The Phoenix area where we live has experienced 13% inflation in the past year.)

But this isn’t a post about inflation. Instead, it is a method to help you with your research.

I made $1.80 an hour stuffing envelopes for my first job with a paycheck. I thought I was rich. In today’s money, I would have been making $12.78 per hour. (What is the minimum wage in your area today?) How do I know? Keep reading.

When writing a novel or referring to days gone by in a nonfiction book or article, it is helpful to put things in perspective by doing a little research. First, find out what that item cost in that year. I did a quick search for “gas prices in 1962” and found the answer in seconds. Then go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website for a special calculator. Here is the address: data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl. This site calculates the average Consumer Price Index for a given calendar month and year, using the rate of inflation and other economic factors, and enables you to compare wages, prices, and other things. This index value has been calculated every year since 1913.

A couple of examples:

The “dime novel” of 1915 would cost $2.93 today. (Has the 99¢ ebook become today’s “dime novel”?)

In 1962 the average home cost $15,000; in today’s money, $147,104.
In 1962 the average salary was $6,000; in today’s money, $58,800.
In 1962 the price of gas was 31¢ per gallon; in today’s money, $3.04.

Of course, not everything increased. My first computer cost $3,000 in 1992 ($9,150 in today’s money). Today you can buy a nice one for well under a thousand dollars.

Have fun playing with the numbers!

Your Turn:

What was your hourly wage for your first job with a paycheck? (Dare to tell us when?)

Leave a Comment
Category: Writing CraftTag: prices, Research

Old School Tools Rule (Sometimes)

By Bob Hostetleron August 5, 2020
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I use modern technology a lot. Some digital tools make the writing life a whole lot easier, from word processing’s track changes to email and Dropbox and voice dictation and more. But I still cling to a few old-school tools that newer technologies haven’t replaced. Here are three I have found irreplaceably beneficial. The Bring-Up File An analog tool that has helped me make the most of my time and …

Read moreOld School Tools Rule (Sometimes)
Category: Technology, The Writing LifeTag: organization, Research

Attention to Detail

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 24, 2019
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Recently, I read a general-market novel that, for the most part, held together. Except I wish the novel ended sooner because I started to get bored. That aside, the author seemed to know the topics discussed but, for whatever reason, completely missed the mark when describing a popular hotel chain. The story said the logo is red. It is outlined in red, but the logo can hardly be described as red. …

Read moreAttention to Detail
Category: Craft, Writing CraftTag: Research

Researching Your Historical Novel

By Guest Bloggeron September 21, 2017
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Angela Breidenbach is a bestselling author of fiction through the ages with most of her books set in Montana. She’s the host of Lit Up! on TogiNet.com and iTunes about great entertainment from books to movies. Visit Angela and her fe-lion personal assistant, Muse, posting comedic conversations with his Writer on social media, entertaining fans just for fun. Please find her web site …

Read moreResearching Your Historical Novel
Category: Get Published, Historical, RomanceTag: Historical, Research

Fake News and the Christian Author

By Dan Balowon March 14, 2017
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Most book authors do not work their way up through the ranks beginning with a college degree in journalism. Because of this, many have no exposure to the best practices of career writers and journalists. Sure, book authors might be very creative, insightful and able to recite large sections of Strunk & White or the Chicago Manual of Style, but they are not as familiar with what makes for a …

Read moreFake News and the Christian Author
Category: Editing, Legal Issues, The Writing LifeTag: Journalism, Research, The Writing Life

How To Make Agents’ Blogs Work for You

By Karen Ballon June 1, 2016
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We at the agency love it that so many of you come here every day and read what we share with you. And we do everything we can to ensure that what we share here informs, enlightens, and uplifts you brave souls navigating the publishing world. So last week, when I read some of the questions you’d like addressed, I thought I’d give you a tip on using this blog to its best advantage. And that tip is: …

Read moreHow To Make Agents’ Blogs Work for You
Category: Agency, ConferencesTag: Agency, Blog, questions, Research

Details, Details (Do They Matter?)

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 31, 2016
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I was chatting with a reader the other day who told me about an advertisement she’d received about a new book. She said, “I read the sample, but then the author said that Black-eyed Susans bloomed in May, but they don’t bloom until August. I didn’t buy the book.” “Did you like the story otherwise?” I asked. “Yes.” “But you’re not …

Read moreDetails, Details (Do They Matter?)
Category: Craft, Editing, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Details, Research, Writing Craft

Bad Research

By Dan Balowon August 4, 2015
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After many years in another industry, a corporate CEO left to lead a large publishing company. After a month or so on the job, he grew unsettled at how different publishing was from the consumer product industry he was familiar with, especially the highly “intuitive” approach publishing utilized to make decisions. He recounted a key moment in his first month when he asked a long-time employee if …

Read moreBad Research
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Platform, The Publishing LifeTag: Research, The Publishing Life

Watching History

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 15, 2015
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Over the holidays, my husband and I viewed an epic series about the life of St. Teresa de Jesus, filmed in Spanish, though English subtitles were provided. For eight hours, we were taken back to the 1500s in Spain. As a writer of historical novels, I’ve researched many eras. However, being immersed in an era for such a length of time brought to life many facts: 1.) Even in the best of …

Read moreWatching History
Category: Genre, Writing CraftTag: Genre, Historical, Research

Is Your Novel Historical or Whimsy?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon May 9, 2013
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As a proud native Virginian, I find it painful to read about the possibility that our early settlers may have practiced cannibalism when my state was but a mere colony. If you have been following the story, you have seen that much of the media presents conjecture as fact but at this point whether or not they resorted to cannibalism during the starving season is speculation. Speculation or not, the …

Read moreIs Your Novel Historical or Whimsy?
Category: Craft, Creativity, Genre, Historical, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Genre, Historical Fiction, Research
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