How much did things cost in 1956?
These are some prices of a few items in 1956.
| 1956 price | Inflation adjusted | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallon of petrol | 5s 4d | £5.10 |
| Pint of beer (bottled) [*] | 2s | £1.90 |
| Espresso in a coffee bar | 7d to 1s 3d[1] | 55p to £1.20 |
| 20 cigarettes [*] | 3s 10d | £3.60 |
| Loaf of bread (white, unwrapped) [*] | 10½d | 83p |
| Loose leaf tea [*] 4oz | 1s 7½d | £1.50 |
| Sugar 1lb [*] | 8d | 63p |
| Pint of milk [*] | 7d | 55p |
| Butter ½lb [*] | 1s 10½d | £1.80 |
| Cheddar cheese 1lb [*] | 3s 2d | £3 |
| Margarine 1lb [*] | 1s 9d | £1.70 |
| Lard 1lb [*] | 1s 6½d | £1.50 |
| Eggs 1 dozen [*] | 3s | £2.80 |
| Potatoes lb [*] | 2½d | 20p |
| Cabbages lb [*] | 4d | 32p |
| Onions lb [*] | 6d | 47p |
| Eating apples lb [*] | 1s | 95p |
| Oranges lb [*] | 1s ½d | 95p |
| Ground coffee 8oz [*] | 4s 2d | £4 |
| Cocoa lb [*] | 4s 6d | £4.30 |
| Coal - 1cwt [*] | 7s ½d | £6.60 |
| Bush TV56 17"television | 80 guineas | £1,600 |
| Bush DAC 90 radio | £16 10s | £310 |
| Pam 710 transistor radio (Britain's first transistor radio) [2] | £31 10s | £600 |
| Qualcast Powered Panther lawn mower | £25 15s 9d | £490 |
| The Daily Mirror newspaper | 2d | 16p |
| Average house price | £2,003 | £38,000 |
| Ford Anglia car | £541 | £10,000 |
| Electrolux refrigerator | 58 guineas | £1,200 |
| Hoover washing machine | £47 16s | £910 |
| Invincible Popular vacuum cleaner | £21 10s 3d | £410 |
Prices are in pounds, shillings and pence.
Some shops priced more expensive items in guineas. A guinea is one pound and one shilling or £1.05.
The inflation adjusted prices are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
For a comparison of prices in 1956 adjusted for incomes see Income adjusted prices for 1956
By Steven Braggs, December 2021, updated May 2022
References
[1] 'Coffee comes to town', published in The Manchester Guardian 6 April 1956, page 13
[2] 'Radio! Radio!', third edition by Jonathan Hill, published by Sunrise Press, page 288
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