Figure 1

DECLINE OF THE DOLLAR, POUND AND FRANC
FROM 1900 TO 1950

$

£

Fr

The graph shows the purchasing powers of the United States dollar, the English pound and the French franc in 1900 (white bars) and how they have declined to 1950 (black bars) as compared with the 1900-dollar. The dollar has lost 67 per cent, the pound 87 per cent and the franc 96 per cent.

The pound would have shown even greater decline if the 1950 exchange rate had not been officially pegged. No black bar appears for the franc because the 1950 comparative rate, being less than one 1900 cent, is too small to illustrate.