I remember 55 years ago you could buy a good new PU trick for $2000. But then, I was only making $1 and hour at that time.
In 2026 money, that $2,000 pickup truck would cost about $16,445.43, and your $1.00 an hour wage would be equivalent to $8.22 an hour.
Because of a cumulative inflation rate of 722.27% over the last 55 years (tracking back to 1971), prices today are roughly 8.22 times higher than they were back then.
In 1971: It took 2,000 hours of work at $1hr to buy the truck.
In 2026: It takes exactly 2,000 hours of work at $8.22 hr to afford the inflation-adjusted $16,445.43
No truck is $16K new and very few people make $8.22 an hour. Chic fil a has a $15 starting wage so does one and out burger in Texas, Bucees is $20 for associates that’s like 6 months of time and $15 before that. Solar installers are in the $25 so are roof guys and framers. Plumbers and electricians are $150 or more and mechanics at NTB are in the $30-60 range for an ASE cert and master techs respectively. Those literally are joe six pack jobs. Surveyors are in the $80 range even crew make $25-30
$30,000K vehicle is 1000 hours ish for a semi skilled worker half what your $1 hr and $2000 dollar truck was.