—Matt Sorensen, Albuquerque, New Mexico Adjusted for inflation, the purchasing power of 27 cents in 1950 is $2.97 now. But here’s a big difference: The average gas mileage for passenger cars in 1950 was 15 mpg, but it’s about 25 mpg now. So what grandpa experienced in 1950 was what we experience when gasoline is $5 per gallon today. In short, it was even worse for him.
