The Value of the English Pound in the 1890's

Dave Postles (pot@leicester.ac.uk)
Mon, 23 Oct 1995 11:31:08 +0000

Does anyone know how I could find a way of translating the relative
value and the comparative purchasing power of the English pound
in the 1890s to the U.S. dollar in the 1990s?

The one figure I have been able to come up with so far states that:
1 Pound 1890 = 5 Dollars US 1890
and that
1 Dollar US 1890 = 100 Dollars US 1990

The only problem with this equation is that when I then attempt
to equate it with Charles Booth's numerical definition of the
Poverty Line in the 1890's, his figure of 19-21 Shillings for
a family of three or four people translates into the approximate
1990s equivalent of $100/wk--which is far below our modern
poverty line.
Does anyone have any info? or ideas?
Steve Weissman
I can be contacted individualy <weissman@american.edu> or through
the discussion group if there is enough interest. Thanks in advance.

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