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PURCHASING POWER OF A LONDON CRAFTSMAN’S DAILY WAGE in 1438 – 1439: for Textiles, Foodstuffs, and Spices in terms of a master mason’s or master carpenter’s daily wage of 8d. [1] |
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COMMODITY |
Price per Unit in d. |
Unit |
Quantity Purchased by Daily Wage of 8d |
Quantity Purchased by Weekly Wage of 48d |
No. of Days’ Wages to Buy 7 Yds |
No. of Days’ Wages at 6d per day for Oxford |
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TEXTILES |
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Canvas |
2 |
yard |
4 |
24 |
1.75 |
2.33 |
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Brabant Linen |
6.4 |
yard |
1.25 |
7.5 |
5.6 |
7.47 |
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Flemish Linen |
12.1 |
yard |
0.661 |
3.967 |
10.59 |
14.12 |
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English Worsted |
3.5 |
yard |
2.286 |
13.714 |
3.06 |
4.08 |
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English Kersey: Dyed |
17.9 |
yard |
0.447 |
2.682 |
15.66 |
20.88 |
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English Broadcloth: Dyed: average |
25.4 |
yard |
0.315 |
1.89 |
22.23 |
29.63 |
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English Broadcloth: Dyed: highest |
40 |
yard |
0.2 |
1.2 |
35 |
46.67 |
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Scarlet Broadcloth: average |
144.2 |
yard |
0.055 |
0.333 |
126.18 |
168.23 |
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Scarlet Broadcloth: highest range |
228 |
yard |
0.035 |
0.211 |
199.5 |
266 |
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Flemish Broadcloth (Ghent Dickedinnen) |
65.158 |
yard |
0.123 |
0.737 |
57.01 |
76.02 |
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Silk: Velvet: average |
181.08 |
yard |
0.044 |
0.265 |
158.45 |
211.26 |
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Silk: Velvet: highest range |
279.96 |
yard |
0.029 |
0.171 |
244.97 |
326.62 |
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Silk: Damask |
144 |
yard |
0.056 |
0.333 |
126 |
168 |
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Silk: Plain Satin |
105 |
yard |
0.076 |
0.457 |
91.88 |
122.5 |
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OTHER COMMODITIES: Food and Fuel |
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Almonds |
3 |
pound |
2.667 |
16 |
0.38 |
0.5 |
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Honey |
2.5 |
pints |
3.2 |
19.2 |
0.31 |
0.42 |
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Milk |
1 |
gallons |
8 |
48 |
0.13 |
0.17 |
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Butter |
1 |
pints |
8 |
48 |
0.13 |
0.17 |
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Salt |
0.5 |
pints |
16 |
96 |
0.06 |
0.08 |
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Eggs |
0.157 |
number |
51 |
306 |
0.02 |
0.03 |
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Apples |
0.08 |
number |
100 |
600 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
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Rye Flour |
4 |
pound |
2 |
12 |
0.5 |
0.67 |
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Chickens |
5 |
number |
1.6 |
9.6 |
0.63 |
0.83 |
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Capons |
1.509 |
number |
5.3 |
31.8 |
0.19 |
0.25 |
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Rabbits |
4 |
number |
2 |
12 |
0.5 |
0.67 |
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Sole (Fish) |
2.182 |
number |
3.667 |
22 |
0.27 |
0.36 |
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Red Wine |
5 |
gallons |
1.6 |
9.6 |
0.63 |
0.83 |
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Penny Ale (Beer) |
0.748 |
gallons |
10.7 |
64.2 |
0.09 |
0.12 |
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Good-Quality Ale |
1.778 |
gallons |
4.5 |
27 |
0.22 |
0.3 |
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Tallow Candles |
1.333 |
number |
6 |
36 |
0.17 |
0.22 |
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Coal |
0.748 |
bushels |
10.7 |
64.2 |
0.09 |
0.12 |
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SPICES |
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Pepper |
18.028 |
pound |
0.444 |
2.663 |
2.25 |
3 |
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Ginger |
12 |
pound |
0.667 |
4 |
1.5 |
2 |
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Cinnamon |
24.151 |
pound |
0.331 |
1.988 |
3.02 |
4.03 |
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Cloves |
35.556 |
pound |
0.225 |
1.35 |
4.44 |
5.93 |
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Saffron |
182.857 |
pound |
0.044 |
0.263 |
22.86 |
30.48 |
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Sugar |
16 |
pound |
0.5 |
3 |
2 |
2.67 |
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[1] Dr. John Munro, Department of Economics, University of Toronto, Canada – November 2001
