Indy you are missing the point, I said "disposable income in the context of income remaining after all necessities are provided" Issy and ALTIE were arguing the cost of a Holden car in relation to weekly income in 1948 compared to 2020, that is to simplistic to be any kind of guide to affordability and demand. Besides there is a whole range of other factors influencing consumer demand. I"m sure some in depth analysts, taking into account all the variable factors influencing demand, would show affordability of the average car today in Australia is maybe 50 to 100 times greater than it was in 1948.

The unions used to boast about how they had forced employers to pay huge wages. They are silent now that most of these highly paid jobs have disappeared overseas.

Paul, you're right in what you say.
I thought we were using the actual "gross" wage as a comparison of how many weeks/years it would take to buy a Holden, just as a comparison exercise, I agree about the "disposable" argument, but we don't consider that in this comparison.
I must admit I was gobsmacked when I looked at the numbers again, and realised that back then it only took three years of "gross" income to buy a car. ($1,500/$500 = 3 years or 36 months)
WOW!
WHAT WENT WRONG?
Today it's $38,000/$740 per week = 51 weeks or over 4 years.
Who's getting ripped off and who is getting better off?
It's not the Aussie public, that's for sure!

Unemployment is on the rise again, and the best the 'experts' can do is bleat for another interest rate drop when they should be calling for a stop to immigration, and putting people to work in any job available, and withholding the dole from people who think they have the right to pick and choose. No work, no money.

ALTRAV,

Did they do 'rithmetic at your school?

Milk is a good example on the minimum wage in 1950 you could buy approx. 152 litres for a weeks work but today you can get 700 litres.

Now drink up your milk!!