Year by year, in 2025 prices
| Year | £1 | 10p | £100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | £21.73 | £2.17 | £2,173 |
| 1971 | £19.86 | £1.99 | £1,986 |
| 1972 | £18.54 | £1.85 | £1,854 |
| 1973 | £16.99 | £1.70 | £1,699 |
| 1974 | £14.64 | £1.46 | £1,464 |
| 1975 | £11.78 | £1.18 | £1,178 |
| 1976 | £10.11 | £1.01 | £1,011 |
| 1977 | £8.73 | £0.87 | £873 |
| 1978 | £8.06 | £0.81 | £806 |
| 1979 | £7.11 | £0.71 | £711 |
Money in the 1970s
Decimal money arrived on 15 February 1971. Inflation then soared, peaking at around 24% in 1975, so prices roughly tripled over the decade.
Prices rose about 206% between 1970 and 1979. These figures compare the cost of everyday goods and services. Wages, house prices and the size of the economy all grew at different rates, so a 1970s salary or fortune would look bigger still if compared with what people earn or own today.
Source: Office for National Statistics composite price index (CDKO), Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures are rounded.
Other decades: 1800s · 1810s · 1820s · 1830s · 1840s · 1850s · 1860s · 1870s · 1880s · 1890s · 1900s · 1910s · 1920s · 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · 1960s · 1970s
Common questions
How much was £1 in 1970 worth today?
About £21.73 in 2025 prices, based on the ONS composite price index.
How much was £1 in 1975 worth today?
About £11.78 in 2025 prices.