The 1960s: Stable Prices, Rising Expectations
Inflation stayed mild through most of the 1960s, even as the economy grew rapidly. The space race, the Great Society, and the Vietnam War defined the era. Prices crept up slowly, but wages kept pace — for most workers, buying power actually improved.
Decade Highlights
- Gas prices barely moved, staying near $0.30-$0.35 per gallon.
- The minimum wage peaked in real purchasing power at $1.60 in 1968.
- New homes crossed the $20,000 mark for the first time.
What Things Cost in the 1960s
Gallon of Gas
$0.31
New Car
$2,350 - $3,100
Dozen Eggs
$0.53
Gallon of Milk
$1.04
Loaf of Bread
$0.21
Movie Ticket
$0.75
Minimum Wage
$1.00 - $1.60/hr
Median Home
~$24,000
Explore the Full Data
Dive into the year-by-year numbers for each dataset.