[Williams]

IF inflation and devaluation actually occur??

They used to say, “That and a dime will get you a cup of coffee.”

When I was a kid, candy bar was a nickel, then a dime, a quarter. Now it’s a dollar plus.

New cars used to cost $600.

[misanthrope]

Mercury dimes.

Universally recognized as silver

Worth $1.11 at the moment. Still buy a cup at most places.

[PLMerite]

"New cars used to cost $600."

And this is what you got: :)

[grey_whiskers]

...now do salaries.

You're oversimplifying. The growth of the welfare state,
of out-of-control government,
of mass importation of dependent foreigners,
the mass importation of working foreigners,
the rise of women in the workforce,
the explosion of consumer credit,
the cult of the walk-on-water CEO,
the laws making it a better deal to fund businesses with debt rather than stock,
the phenomenon of stock options as payment for executives,
the rise of executive pay compared to workers,
the flood of government regulation,
the plague of lawyers,

also all had their part.