Mad About Jaguar

While the kids enjoyed early afternoon naps yesterday, I enjoyed this week's episode of Mad Men.  I was sad that there wasn't a Betty Draper Diet Moment.  I really enjoy seeing her as a full figured gal who has turned to weight watchers! 



Anyhoo, I was so intrigued by that smashing red Jaguar XKE that I had to pause the show and visit with my good friend Google for a few minutes.  Here's what I learned.

Assuming the show was accurately portraying the cost of the Jaguar XKE, it cost $5,600 in 1966.  The Jag pictured above, as you can read, starts at $84,500.  That's less than fifty years of inflation between the two.

So, I had to do a little math.  The minimum wage in 1966 was $1.25.  Minimum wage had grown to $7.25 by 2011.  That's 5.8 times higher or 580%; whichever you like the sound of.

The price of the Jaguar went from $5,600 to $84,500.  15 times or 1500% higher.

Minimum wage increased 580% while the cost of luxury cars increased 1500%.  Something seems drastically out of proportion to me, what about you?

If minimum wage increased 1500% since 1966's rate of $1.25, the minimum wage would be $18.75.  Guess we should be happy that the price of a hamburger hasn't grown 1500%, huh?  Speaking of hamburgers, I wonder what they cost in 1966?

Ok, looks like a fast food burger cost twenty cents in '66.  I can't say for sure what the price of a burger is on the menus these days, but I know you can get the basic for about a buck-fifty, so I'm going with that price.  So, the price of a burger has grown approximately 7.5 times (or 750%) in the past fifty-ish years.  Even the price of a burger has grown faster than the minimum wage!  I'm just plain afraid to look at gas prices!  Eeek!