OK, this may start the odd doom-and-gloom response. Please remember it's just a game, and the world doesn't end while next Monday at the earliest (about 2.31pm).
I was hoping to challenge the view that GW prices are excessive, not like in the good old days (cue sorrowful music etc etc), as I thought prices in general had risen quite a bit over the same time. Though I do expect higher prices, I don't expect my heart to stop beating- I remember minis were expensive when I was a kid.
To start, a disclaimer: the below comparisons are based from data from http://www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/
, I am not an economist, nor expert on the industry. Please consider that the figures are NOT very reliable given that they talk about the economy as a whole, or selected parts of the economy (usually focusing on necessities), and price pressures on GW needn't be much related. They should however be somewhat indicative of your comparative feeling of expense (if you ignore the increase in grumpy, cynicism that most of us grow into
).Inflation figures (copy and pasted)
In 2006, ?1.00 from 1991 was worth:
?1.48 using the retail price index
?1.47 using the GDP deflator
?1.84 using the average earnings
?2.09 using the per capita GDP
?2.20 using the share of GDP
In 2006, ?3.00 from 1991 was worth:
?4.45 using the retail price index
?4.42 using the GDP deflator
?5.52 using the average earnings
?6.27 using the per capita GDP
?6.61 using the share of GDP
In 2006, ?4.00 from 1991 was worth:
?5.94 using the retail price index
?5.89 using the GDP deflator
?7.35 using the average earnings
?8.36 using the per capita GDP
?8.81 using the share of GDP
In 2006, ?5.00 from 1991 was worth:
?7.42 using the retail price index
?7.36 using the GDP deflator
?9.19 using the average earnings
?10.46 using the per capita GDP
?11.02 using the share of GDP
Info, on what each measure of inflation means (copied, pasted and edited a bit)
Current data is only available till 2006.
If your are asking about the "present worth" of buying a loaf of bread or filling the gas tank 40 years ago, are you thinking in terms of the amount of money you are spending today on such things? If so, use the price index of the average household called the CPI (RPI for the UK.) On the other hand, if you are wondering how "affordable" this would be to the average person, use the GDP per capita, or a wage or average earnings index. For the US, we have an index of unskilled wage and for the UK we have an index of average earnings.
If you are asking about the current equivalence of what someone earned in the past, and you are thinking in terms of the household items that person might buy, then use the CPI. If you are thinking about how this income would compare in terms of affording to run that average household today, then use the Consumer Bundle. A third possibility is that you want to know how that person ranked in status compared to what others earned so it would be best to use GDP per capita. Finally, your question may be how economically "powerful" that person would be, and then you should use share of GDP.
Analysis
I was going for 1991, as this was Space Marine era in full flow (maybe a bit early), and I had old White Dwarf's with prices in them. However I don't have many, so please quote old prices and compare for yourselves!
1991 Oct/Dec Prices
Please note, I believe only the Reaver and Eldar Phantom Titan are the same as present sculpts.
Waveserpants x2 ?3.99
Deathstalker Prism Cannon x2 ?3.99
Warphunter x2 ?3.99
The new types look a bit light, so I won't compare directly, but inflated-based costs to '06 are between: ?5.94 - ?8.81
If I remember right they were about the weight and price of 3 predators(same era), new ones being about ?7.50 now.
Eldar Titan (Phantom/Warlock)
'91: ?4.99;
inflated to 2006: ?7.42 - ?11.02;
today's price ?18 (Eeeek!)
Warhounds
'91 for 2: ?4.99
inflated to '06 for 2: ?7.42 - ?11.02
today's: ?12 for 1; ?24 for 2!!
Reaver Titan
'91: ?4.99
inflated to '06: ?7.42 - ?11.02
today's: ?18
Slasher Gargant ?6.99
Great Gargant
'91: ?11.99
infalated to '06: ?17.81 - ?26.44
todays's: ?12
Ok, not the best to compare with- seems I threw-out more WD's than I thought. And I wasn't expecting the titan's to compare as well as others. Can someone hunt down more useful comparison- old prices for Predators, Rhinos, Chimera, Leman Russ? I think I can remember some, but I'd rather be sure.
And what were the prices in 2006? 1 or 2 pounds less than now?
Conclusion
On the surface today's Predators are, speculatively, towards the higher end of inflation range, which seems reasonable given higher metal costs. The Great Gargant is possibly a bargain (unless it's not as large as the old one?). And the Warhound, Reaver and Phantom are hideously expensive!
More data please! Corrections also welcome.
as well: