Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a UK Pound Amount, 1270 to Present
Often one knows the price, cost, or value of something in a particular ("original")
year, and one wants to know the value of this money amount in another ("desired")
year. There are many contexts in which such a computation might be performed.
Examples include: the determination of the appropriate level of deferred compensation
in a legal case, updating the price of a commodity fifty years earlier, and
assessment of government expenditure on health care in one year relative to
another. There is no single "correct" measure, and economic historians use one or more different indices depending on the context of the question.
This comparator performs such computations for amounts in U.K.
currency. The technique is as follows: (1) select a general
measure of price, income, or output, and (2) multiply the
money amount by the desired-year/original-year ratio of the
measure. The resulting, "updated", monetary amount may be
termed the "relative value" of the original amount.
The measure often used is the price of a "bundle" of goods
and services that a representative group of consumers buys
or earns. In the U.K. that measure is usually taken to be the
"retail price index" (RPI), which corresponds to what is called
the "consumer price index" in other countries.
However, there are problems with the RPI as a measure. One
problem is that the bundle changes over time. For example,
carriages are replaced with automobiles, and new goods and
services are created (such as personal computers, cellular
phones, and heart transplants). Another problem is that the
RPI is oriented solely to what is purchased by households and omits business investments or government expenditures. Perhaps most
important, the context of the monetary amount may lead to a
measure preferable to the RPI. It is a fair statement that
the RPI is used far too often without consideration of
its consequences.This website presents four additional indices besides the RPI. It also suggests that using each of these indices can be defined in more than one way, depending on the type of thing you are comparing.
Prior to February 15, 1971 ("Decimal day," or "D-day"), monetary
amounts in the U.K. were expressed as pounds (£), shillings
(s.), and pence (d.), where £1 = 20s. = 240d. After 1970, there
were 100 pennies in a pound, so one (new) penny = 2.4 old pence.
All numbers should be entered in decimal rather than fractional
form (for example, 1.5 rather than 1 1/2).
The Five Indices Used
Price Index
There are two common price indices associated with the cost of a bundle of goods and services the average household buys. They are the Retail Price Index
(RPI) and the Consumer Price Index
(CPI). While the CPI is the more common index used now to compute inflation, it has only been available in the UK since 1996. The RPI was first created to be a compensation index for workers during First World War. Over the years economic historians have extended it back to the thirteenth century. For computations in this comparator, the
RPI is used in order to have a consistent long-term series.
GDP Deflator
The
GDP Deflator is similar to the RPI in that it is a measure of average
prices. The "bundle" of goods and services here includes all things
produced in the economy, not just consumer goods and services that are reflected
in the RPI.
Average Earnings
The
Average Earnings are a good way to determine the relative cost of something in terms of the amount of work done by the average worker that it would take to produce,
or the relative time spent at work by that worker
in order to earn its cost. "Earnings" here represent an estimate of the total monetary value of the compensation an average worker in full time employment would get each year.
GDP Per Capita
The
GDP per capita is an index of the economy's average output per person
and is closely correlated with the average income. It can be useful in comparing
different incomes over time.
GDP
The
GDP is the market value of all goods and services produced in a
year. Comparing an expenditure using this measure tells you how much money
in the comparable year would be the same percent of all output.
Defining the Measures
The measures of relative value presented here are computed using the ratio of the change in the indices listed above. Your initial amount is multiplied by the observed value of each index from the desired year divided by the observed value from the initial year.
The best measure of the relative value over time depends on the type of
thing you wish to compare.
If you are looking at a
Commodity, then the best
measures are:
Real Price
Real Price is measured as the relative cost of a (fixed over time) bundle of goods and services such as food, shelter, clothing, etc., that an average household would buy. In theory the size of this bundle does not change over time, but in practice adjustments are made to its composition. This measure uses the RPI.
Labour Value
Labour Value is measured as the multiple of the average wage that a worker would need to use to buy the commodity. This measure uses one of the wage indices.
Income Value
Income Value is measured as the multiple of average income that would be needed to buy a commodity. This measure uses the index of GDP per capita.
Economic Share
Economic Share is the worth of a commodity in a particular time period divided by GDP; it is its share of total output. This is helpful in measuring the relative value of aggregate consumption items such as all the cars made in a year.
If you are looking at an
Income or Wealth, then the best measures are:
Real Wage or Real Wealth
Real Wage or Real Wealth measures the purchasing power of an income or wealth by its relative ability to buy a (fixed over time) bundle of goods and services such as food, shelter, clothing, etc. This bundle does (in theory) not change over time. This measure uses the RPI.
Relative Labour Earnings
Relative Labor Earnings measures an amount of income or wealth relative to the wage of the average worker. This measure uses one of the wage indices.
Relative Income
Relative Income measures an amount of income or wealth relative to per capita GDP. When compared to other incomes or wealth, it shows the economic status or relative "prestige value" the owners
of this income or wealth because of their rank in the income distribution. This measure uses GDP per capita.
Relative Output
Relative Output measures the amount of income or wealth relative to the total output of the economy. When compared to other incomes or wealth, it shows the relative "influence" of the owner of this income or wealth has in controlling the composition or total-amount of production in the economy. This measure uses the share of GDP.
If you are looking at a
Project, then the best measures are:
Real Cost
Real Cost of a project is measured by comparing its cost to the cost index of all output in the economy. This measure uses the GDP Deflator.
Labour Cost
Labor Cost of a project is measured as a multiple of the average wage of the workers that might be used to build the project. This measure uses one of the wage indices.
Economy Cost
Economy Cost of a project is measured as the cost of the project as a percent of the output of the economy. This measure indicates the opportunity cost in terms of the total output of the economy. It can be interpreted as the importance of the item to society as a whole. This measure uses the share of GDP.
Here Are Some Examples
Cost of the Big Ben Bell in Elizabeth Tower
Cost of Big Ben: "Big Ben" was the name commonly used to refer to the clock at the top of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament (Westminster Palace) in London. The tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower in the summer of 2012. It is also conventionally considered to be the name of the clock tower itself. Both usages are incorrect. The clock is properly termed "the Great Clock," and the tower "St. Stephen's Tower" or "the Clock Tower." Rather, "Big Ben" is the name of the giant bell weighing almost 14 tons that hangs in the Clock Tower and strikes on the hour.
In fact, "Big Ben" is sometimes called "the Great Bell." The name "Big Ben" is generally considered to emanate from Sir Benjamin Hall, a large man, who was Commissioner of Works at the time the bell was constructed. Another theory is that "Big Ben" was the nickname of a contemporary heavyweight boxer, Benjamin Caunt, and it was later applied to the bell. Actually, the name "Big Ben" denoted an earlier bell, cast by John Warner and Sons in 1856, that cracked.
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry recast the bell in 1858 using the metal from the original bell, and the name "Big Ben" was retained.
The gross charge for casting the bell was £2,401; but the value of the metal obtained from the earlier bell was £1,829. So the net cost, and the invoice submitted on May 28, 1858, was only £572. The real cost of that net amount in 2021 was £69,770; a definition that would make more sense would be the labour cost and that would be £463,100; while the economy cost would be £1.86 million. For relative values of the gross cost, the figures would be increased more than fourfold.
Borrowing
to Purchase Shares of Suez Canal Company
Borrowing
to Purchase Shares of Suez Canal Company:
In 1875 the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli borrowed £4 million
from the House of Rothschild, enabling Great Britain to purchase 176,602 shares
(out of 400,000 total shares) of the Suez Canal Company from the financially
strapped ruler of Egypt. This transaction gave Britain ownership of 44 percent
of the Company and, more important, the pretext to invade Egypt in 1882 and
incorporate the country into the British Empire. It is interesting that the
Rothschilds had some years earlier refused to be involved in financing the
Suez Canal project. When Disraeli's private secretary, Montagu Corry, was
sent as an emissary to Lionel Rothschild to request the loan of £4 million
"tomorrow," Rothschild asked, "What is your security?" Corry replied "The
British Government," and Rothschild responded: "You shall have it." Though
this account (based on Corry's recollection) is no doubt correct,
it is misleading in suggesting that the Rothschilds were surprised by the
request. In fact, there is reason to believe that Disraeli had discussed
the matter previously with Lionel Rothschild.
The Real Cost in 2021 of the £4 million borrowing is £437.3 million, however, this would be inappropriate definition to use. The Economy Cost, or the share of GDP, would be £7.4 billion. Given the implication of the purchase for
the British Empire, relative values do not appear unduly high.
Cost
of World War I
Cost
of World War I: The effect of World War
I (also known as "the Great War") on Great Britain was disastrous. The human,
physical, and financial losses of the country were immense. For the fiscal
year April 1, 1917–March 30, 1918, the war expenditures of Great Britain
have been estimated as £2.5 billion, or 60% of the annual GDP. Taking this amount to apply to the
calendar year 1917, the last full year of the war, the comparator yields an economy cost (i.e. the share of GDP) of £1,380 billion measured in 2021 pounds.
Earnings
of Barristers and Physicians
Earnings
of Barristers and Physicians: A "rising
barrister" in 1850 could have an annual income of £5,000. The 2021 relative
value of these earnings is £568,800 via the RPI and we call that the real wage. The barrister's earnings relative to average earnings was
certainly greater in 1850 than today; for the 2021 income value was £6,990,000. In comparison, "a doctor
with a fairly fashionable practice" might earn £1,000-£2,000 in 1850 versus
the £5,000 of the barrister. Relative values for a physician's income would
correspondingly be 20-40 percent of those of the barrister.
Stipend
of Archbishop of Canterbury
Stipend
of Archbishop of Canterbury: In 1896
the Archbishop of Canterbury received a stipend of £15,000 annually. The relative
values of this amount in 2021 are substantial. Looking at the four measures to compare an income, we see that in the economy today, he had a real wage of £1.85 million to buy goods and services. Compared to the average worker he had real earnings of £7.17 million, and a relative income of £11.84 million. Finally, his economic power would be £21.97 million.
Price
of Tea
Price
of Tea: In 1870 "normal working-class
quality" tea sold at 3s. 4d. per pound-weight. In 1889 Lipton tea was offered
at "the phenomenally low price" of 1s. 7d. per pound. Neither price can be
construed as low, according to relative values in 2021. The 1870 and 1889 real price
was £17.00, and £9.29, while the labour value was
108.30,and £42.56, and the income value was
£144.20, and £64.55.
Price
of Daily Mail
Price
of Daily Mail: The
first mass-circulation newspaper for the general public was the Daily Mail, which began in 1896 and sold for 1/2 d. (old pence).
The corresponding real price and labour value of this amount in 2021 is 25 (new) pence.
*In these examples, we use the convention that a billion is 1,000 million.
References for Examples
Big
Ben
http://www.londonnet.co.uk/ln/guide/about/gallbigb.html,
http://www.parliament.uk/faq/history___buliding_faq_page.cfm,
http://www.britainusa.com/faq/showfaq.asp?SID=293,
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben
Suez
Canal
Niall Ferguson, The World's
Banker: The History of the House of Rothschild. London: Weidenfeld
& Nicolson, 1998, pp. 820-821; Hugh J. Schonfield, The Suez Canal in
Peace and War, 1869‑1969. Coral
Gables, FL: University of Miami Press, rev. ed., 1969, pp. 35, 47.
World
War I
Edwin R. A. Seligman, "The Cost
of the War and How It Was Met." American Economic Review, vol.
9, no. 4 (December 1919), p. 749.
Barristers
and Physicians
John Burnett, A History
of the Cost of Living. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin,
1969, p. 233.
Archbishop
of Canterbury
Peter Wilsher, The
Pound in Your Pocket, 1870‑1970. London: Cassell, 1970, p.
79.
Tea
Wilsher, p. 28; Burnett, p. 213.
Daily
Mail
Wilsher, p. 74.
A Project is either an investment, such as construction of a canal or installation of a cable network; or a government expenditure, such as the financing of Medicare or a war. Also within this category are such items as the size of a government budget deficit, and the total assets or net worth of a company.
Income is a flow of earnings, while Wealth is a stock of assets. The earnings might be of a specific type of labour, such as a plumber or professional athlete, or the (average) earnings of a broad group such as unskilled workers. Wealth can be a financial asset, such as bank deposits or a stock portfolio, or it can involve a physical asset, such as real estate.
Commodities are (usually consumer) goods and services. Examples include: bread, attending a rock concert, buying fish and chips, a visit to the dentist, and personal computers.
Citation
"Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.K. Pound Amount, 1270 to present," MeasuringWorth, 2025.
URL: www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/
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