You can find information online at www.bls.gov (the website for Bureau of Labor Statistics). BLS collects data on consumer prices for each year. The detailed online data may not go back to 1949, but any university library may have reports for earlier years. You should also be able to find information in the "Economic Report of the President" This is published annually and later ones are available online at http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/index.html The online information again does not appear to go back to 1949, but the published reports should also be available in the library. Marjorie Oi 690 Winton Road South Rochester, NY 14618 -----Original Message----- From: A LISTSERV list for discussions pertaining to New York State history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Poor House Lady Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 12:14 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: 1949 pay vs. 2003 pay Can someone refer me to a reliable source to find/calculate the relative purchasing power of (for example) $82 in 1949 vs. $1290 in 2003? I never can remember the correct term for this kind of adjustment! So much for googling. Thanks, Linda Crannell