Your Grandfather Tells You That He Earned

question 65

Essay

Your grandfather tells you that he earned $.50 per hour at his job when he was a boy in 1929.
a.Given that the CPI was 17.1 in 1929 and 184.0 in 2003, how much would you have to make in 2003 to have the same real hourly wage?
b.You made $5.50 an hour working during 2003. Were you better off than your grandfather in terms of purchasing power? Explain.
c.Your grandfather also tells you that a soda cost $.05 in 1929, and you know a soda cost $.55 in 2003. You decide to use the price of a soda as the price index. How much would the 2003 "soda equivalent" of $.50 per hour in 1929 be?

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Definitions:

Premium

Fee for insurance coverage, usually paid every year by the insured person. The difference between a bond’s par value and its market value when the market value is more. When bonds are sold at a premium, the yield rate will be lower than the stated (face) rate.

Discount

A fee charged when someone buys a note before maturity. With regard to bonds, a bond sells at a discount if the market value becomes less than the face value.

Premium Price

A pricing strategy where goods or services are sold at a higher price point due to perceived advantages, often related to quality or status.

Bond Quoted

The price or interest rate at which a bond is currently being sold or bought in the market.