Civilization.ca - Before e-commerce

Subject
Math, History, Social Studies, Economics

Themes
Change, Technology, Economics

Resources

Description

Divide the class into groups of three or four students.
Ask each group to select a historical catalogue from this site. The students must locate the catalogue on the site.
Ask each group to create a catalogue order for ten items from their selected catalogue.
Ask each group to convert its historical order into a contemporary order. Students must find an equivalent item in the modern Sears catalogue for each item on their original order. Calculate the cost of the entire order.
Using the price conversion table, ask each group to determine the cost of the historic order in current dollars.
- How does the overall cost compare?
- Calculate the percentage increase or decrease.
Repeat this activity for each item on the list, comparing the price of each item in current dollars.
- Which items increased in price the most?
- The least?
- Have any decreased in price?
Ask each group to present its findings.
Lead a class discussion about why prices change and what historical events account for the differences in the rate of change in various years.

Price Conversion Table

Use this table to compare catalogue prices to 2003 dollars. To compare prices to current dollars, use the full table provided at http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/inflation_calc.htm.

In 2003 you would need …	$12.04	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1918
In 2003 you would need...	$11.16	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1926
In 2003 you would need...	$11.27	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1929
In 2003 you would need...	$13.95	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1936
In 2003 you would need...	$13.49	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1939
In 2003 you would need...	$9.03	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1948
In 2003 you would need...	$8.41	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1950
In 2003 you would need...	$7.31	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1956
In 2003 you would need...	$6.57	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1962
In 2003 you would need...	$5.79	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1967
In 2003 you would need...	$3.69	...To match the purchasing power of $1 in 1975