UK Inflation Time Machine
Pick something, slide to a year, and see what it cost back then — in pounds, and in hours of work.
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Figures are approximate era snapshots — see the FAQ for sources.
Ten rounds. You're shown an item and a year — guess whether it cost more or less than the figure shown.
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UK Inflation Time Machine — Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the figures come from?
Approximate, rounded values based on the ONS Retail Prices Index long run, ONS earnings surveys (New Earnings Survey and ASHE), the UK House Price Index and Nationwide house-price series, and Department for Transport fuel prices. They convey the feel of an era rather than an exact receipt.
What does "in hours of work" mean?
The price of an item divided by the hourly wage that year — so you see how much working time it cost then versus now. Switch between a typical full-time wage and the lowest-paid full-time wage (the National Minimum Wage from 1999 onward; a low-pay average before that).
Why do houses and stamps look so different from milk?
Some things track general inflation closely (milk, bread, a pint). Others don't — UK house prices and postage have risen far faster than the RPI, while petrol has been unusually flat in real terms lately. Those items use their own historical price series rather than a simple inflation scaling.
How does Price Check UK work?
You're shown an item and a year and asked whether it cost more or less than a stated figure. Ten rounds, then a score. The daily round is the same for everyone; a challenge link replays the identical ten prices for a friend.