I don't believe any of those calculations, such as the BLS Inflation Calculator, put out by the government. Skewed by politics and methodology that has changed over the years, to suit political purposes. Let's say one made $10,000 back in the 1960's. it's difficult to say what the equivalent would be today.
Many things that were free and provided by government then are now fee-based. For example, I remember when many things were free in our parks in the SF region and are now expensive, such as the zoo, museums, aquarium, Japanese Tea Garden, Conservatory of Flowers, etc. Bridge tolls were cheap (and supposedly temporary). Lots of hidden fees on our utility bills, electronic goods, auto components, etc. that reduce buying power. We're being double-taxed everywhere, taxed on our paychecks and again elsewhere.
Truth is, we kept a lot more of our income as a percentage back in the old days. The jackals in government want 50 percent and more of what we produce, and the sheep in the populace are agreeable to that.