Table 8.1: The Internal Purchasing Power of the pound shows how the value of money depreciates with inflation.

To find the purchasing power of a pound in 2008 relative to 2003, for example, take the 2003 column and select the 2008 row.

Even in a low inflation world the answer is surprising. A coin which bought 100p of goods in 2003 would only have bought 84.4p worth in 2008.

A table providing purchasing power comparisons back to 1962 can be found in the data section.