A couple of clarifications. The index I originally used was for Europe. Quite relevant for the discussion at hand. Second I did make a minor calculation error -- the (European) factor is 11.3 not 12.3. This makes the current equivalent of $75 in 1968 = about $850.
I used the calculator bob suggested for the US CPI http://www.westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi It came up with a factor of 5.53. Which seems low to me, given the 5-6 consumer examples I cited. x $75 = 414.75 There are a number of "relevant" inflation indexes. Many economiss don't favor the CPI. Other indexes may give different answers. =============== Calcs for the European Index: Increase per cent per year in General Index of Retail Prices over past 20 years from 1988 (back to 1968 = 9.81% Increase per cent per year in General Index of Retail Prices over past 10 years from 1998 (back to 1988) = 4.07% Increase per cent per year in General Index of Retail Prices over past 5 years from 2003 (back to 1998) = 2.22% Increase per cent per year in General Index of Retail Prices over past 1 year from 2004 (back to 2003) = 3.47% (same used for 2005) 1.0981^20 = 6.498869719 1.047^10 = 1.582948613 1.0222^5 = 1.11603903 1.0347^2 = 1.07060409 6.498869719 x 1.582948613 x 1.11603903 x 1.07060409 = 12.29172765 -1 = 11.3 x 75 = 847.5 --- In [email protected], "shempmcgurk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], a_non_moose_ff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > > > I posted the link of my source. > > > > > > > Okay...I went to the link found at the posting where you made the > original claims that you did at... > > http://www.watsonwyatt.com/europe/pubs/longtermstats/render2.asp? > ID=14440 > > ...and there is NOTHING there that goes back to 1968. > > So where exactly did you get the 12.3 factor? > > Again, I think you goofed by doubling it somewhere along the line, > Luke. I especially think this is the case because you wrote that > you had to do some "multiplication" to get it back to '68 and I > think you accidently doubled it when you shouldn't have. > > Check your figures, please, and get back to us and, please, and if > you're wrong, let us know. > > > > > > > > > > > > > I also posted 5 or so examples that supported the 12 x factor. > > > > Read the post Luke. > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "shempmcgurk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > 8...> wrote: > > > > > > --- In [email protected], a_non_moose_ff > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "markmeredith2002" > > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > When I taught full time I never saw myself as "selling > mantras" > > > or > > > > > some such thing, but charging for the cost of maintaining a > > > center, > > > > > publicity and other expenses, and a maintainance lifestyle > for > > > me the > > > > > teacher - plus of course giving about 1/2 to the parent corp > as a > > > > > franchise fee for its role in developing the product and > > > conducting > > > > > other support operations - at least that's the business > angle on > > //> > > understanding the course fee for TM. In short you're > charging > > > for the > > > > > cost of making tm easy and convenient for someone in the US > to > > > learn. > > > > > > > > Agreed. > > > > > > > > > I think that was fair when the cost was $75-$175 which it > was > > > when I > > > > > taught. Now with the fee at $2500 or more, that whole model > > > breaks > > > > > down in my mind. > > > > > > > > I just checked an inflation index from 1968 -- when prices were > > > > $75/$35 for adults and students. Prices have increased by a > factor > > > of > > > > 12.3 times since then. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Where did you get your figures? Because when I > googled "consumer > > > price index history" I came up with a table showing a MUCH > different > > > result from 1968 to 2005 than 12.3 times. > > > > > > According to the Consumer Price Index found at the U.S. > Department > > > of Labor at > ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/cpi/cpiai.txt , > > > the CPI in January 1968 was 34.1; in January 2005 it was 190.7. > > > > > > Now, according to MY calculater that's an increase by a factor > of > > > 5.6, NOT 12.3 as you stated(curiously, 5.6 is almost exactly > half of > > > 12.3 so maybe you accidentally doubled your figures when you did > the > > > math). > > > > > > Unless my math is wrong (and I will stand corrected if someone > > > points out an error on my part), a $35.00 initiation fee in 1968 > > > would therefore be $196.00 today. > > > > > > A $75.00 initiation fee in 1968 would therefore be $420.00 today. > > > > > > Extrapolate all you want from there, and add all and anything > you > > > think is justified from there, but I don't think there's any way > you > > > can come up with anything anywhere near $2,500... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A surprisingly large factor, but then again, adult theatre > tickets > > > > were around $1, a gal of gas around $.3, a nice middle class > home > > > in > > > > the SF Bay Area was $30,000, a large Hersheys chocolate bar > with > > > > almonds was $.10, etc., an all day ski lift ticket at a > premier > > > area > > > > was $5 ($75 now), hardbound "best sellers were around $2, a > new VW > > > > was $1200 or so (I think), etc. > > > > > > > > Thus in "today's dollars", the 1968 equivalent price TM for an > > > adult > > > > is about $925. > > > > > > > > One could argue (not me particularly) that the value of the > product > > > > has increased due to the availability of adjunct products that > are > > > now > > > > available to enhance the core product: AV, SV, GV, jyotish, > yagyas, > > > > gems, sidhis, collective consiousness, etc. > > > > > > > > Thus a price of $1500-2000 would not be unreasonable given the > more > > > > complete product portfolio available compared to the lone > product > > > > offering at $925. > > > > > > > > An extra $500 (25%) ($20 in 1968 terms) is added > for "humanitarian > > > > projects" not unlike what some firms like Starbucks and Ben and > > > > Jerry's do (thought their percentage may be different). > > > > > > > > Voila $2500 is "reasonable". And not so far off from 1968 > prices. > > > And > > > > heck, you get a King thrown in for free! > > > > > > > > > > > > (See link. You need to do some multiplication to get the index > > > back 38 > > > > years.) > > > > > http://www.watsonwyatt.com/europe/pubs/longtermstats/render2.asp? > > > ID=14440 > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
