Inflation in 1789 and its effect on pound value
£1 in 1788 is equivalent in purchasing power to about £0.99 in 1789. The pound had an average deflation rate of -1.33% per year since 1788, producing a cumulative price change of -1.33%. Purchasing power increased by 1.33% in 1789 compared to 1788. On average, you would have to spend 1.33% less money in 1789 than in 1788 for the same item. This is an example of deflation.
This means that prices in 1789 are 1.33% lower than average prices since 1788, according to the Office for National Statistics composite price index.
The inflation rate in 1788 was 4.17%. The inflation rate in 1789 was -1.33%. The 1789 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.26% per year between 1789 and 2024.
Inflation rate is calculated by change in the composite price index (CPI). The CPI in 1789 was 7.40. It was 7.50 in the previous year, 1788. The difference in CPI between the years is used by the Office for National Statistics to officially determine inflation. Because the 1789 CPI is less than 1788 CPI, negative inflation (also known as deflation) has occurred.
⌃
| Average inflation rate | -1.33% |
| Converted amount £1 base | £0.99 |
| Price difference £1 base | £-0.01 |
| CPI in 1788 | 7.500 |
| CPI in 1789 | 7.400 |
| Inflation in 1788 | 4.17% |
| Inflation in 1789 | -1.33% |
| £1 in 1788 | £0.99 in 1789 |
How to calculate inflation rate for £1, 1788 to 1789
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1788 and 1789:
CPI in 1789 CPI in 1788
×
1788 GBP value
=
1789 GBP value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.K. CPI was 7.5 in the year 1788 and 7.4 in 1789:
7.47.5
×
£1
=
£0.99
£1 in 1788 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as £0.99 in 1789.
To get the total inflation rate for the 1 years between 1788 and 1789, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1789 - CPI in 1788CPI in 1788
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (1 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
7.4 - 7.57.5
×
100
=
-1%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the composite price index published by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS). A composite index is created by combining price data from several different published sources, both official and unofficial. The Consumer Price Index, normally used to compute inflation, has only been tracked since 1988. All inflation calculations after 1988 use the Office for National Statistics' Consumer Price Index, except for the current year, which is based on The Bank of England's forecast.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “Inflation Rate in 1789 | UK Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 10 Dec. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/UK-inflation-rate-in-1789.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.
| Average inflation rate | -1.33% |
| Converted amount £1 base | £0.99 |
| Price difference £1 base | £-0.01 |
| CPI in 1788 | 7.500 |
| CPI in 1789 | 7.400 |
| Inflation in 1788 | 4.17% |
| Inflation in 1789 | -1.33% |
| £1 in 1788 | £0.99 in 1789 |