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Purchasing power of the euro and the French franc

Update: February, 15 2012

The following table allows to convert, for the years 1991 to 2011, a amount from a given year to another, with correction from the observed inflation between the two years.

The purchasing power of the euro and the French franc measures monetary erosion due to inflation.

How to use the table

The table is used to convert past French franc or euro values into current euros. It also can be used to convert 2011 euros values into past French francs or euros.

The following four examples show how these coefficients can be used.

1. You want to know how much the sum of 1,000 French franc in 1951 is worth in 2001 French franc to maintain the same purchasing power.

Go to the 1951 line.

Go to the 2001 column, where you will find 0.128.

Multiply the initial sum of FRF 1,000 by 0.128: the result is FRF 128.

In addition to inflation, the coefficient takes account of the transition from “old” French franc in circulation in 1951 to “new” French franc, used from 1960.

The purchasing power of FRF 1,000 in 1951 is hence equal to FRF 128 in 2001.

2. You want to find the purchasing power in 2001 French franc of 1,000 euro in 2011.

Go to the 2001 line.

Go to the 2011 column, where you will find 0.18150.

Multiply the initial sum of FRF 1,000 French franc by 0.18150: the result is EUR 181.50.

In addition to inflation, the coefficient takes account of the transition from the French franc to the euro (EUR 1 = FRF 6.55957).

The purchasing power of FRF 1,000 in 2001 is hence equal to EUR 181.50 in 2011.

3. You want to calculate the purchasing power in 2011 French franc of 1,000 euro in 2001.

Go to the 2011 line.

Go to the 2001 column, where you will find the coefficient 5,510.

Multiply the initial sum of EUR 1,000 by 5,510: the result is FRF 5,510.

In addition to inflation, the coefficient takes account of the transition from the euro to the French franc (EUR 1 = FRF 6.55957).

The purchasing power of EUR 1,000 in 2011 is hence equal to FRF 5,510 in 2001.

4. You want to calculate the purchasing power in 2011 euro of 1,000 euro in 2010.

Go to the 2011 line.

Go to the 2010 column, where you will find the coefficient 0.979.

Multiply the initial sum of EUR 1,000 by 0.979: the result is EUR 979.

The purchasing power of EUR 1,000 in 2011 is hence equal to EUR 979 in 2010.

See also: methodological supplements and precautions

Coefficient for the conversion of euro in one year into euro in 2011
1 euro of year is equal in 2011 euro to
2011 1,000
2010 1,021
2009 1,037
2008 1,038
2007 1,067
2006 1,083
2005 1,101
2004 1,120
2003 1,144
2002 1,168
Coefficient for the conversion of franc in one year into euro in 2011
1 franc of year is equal in 2011 euro to
* transition from "old" French franc to "new" French franc
2001 0.18150
2000 0.18452
1999 0.18764
1998 0.18858
1997 0.18989
1996 0.19222
1995 0.19601
1994 0.19940
1993 0.20273
1992 0.20694
1991 0.21185
1990 0.21864
1989 0.22600
1988 0.23416
1987 0.24046
1986 0.24802
1985 0.25462
1984 0.26946
1983 0.28942
1982 0.31727
1981 0.35475
1980 0.40232
1979 0.45684
1978 0.50598
1977 0.55185
1976 0.60355
1975 0.66159
1974 0.73944
1973 0.84094
1972 0.91843
1971 0.97495
1970 1.03029
1969 1.08402
1968 1.15398
1967 1.20605
1966 1.23892
1965 1.27230
1964 1.30402
1963 1.34886
1962 1.41354
1961 1.48157
1960* 1.53052
1959 0.01586
1958 0.01684
1957 0.01937
1956 0.01996
1955 0.02080
1954 0.02099
1953 0.02108
1952 0.02072
1951 0.02320
1950 0.02696
1949 0.02966
1948 0.03357
1947 0.05327
1946 0.07948
1945 0.12130
1944 0.18015
1943 0.22009
1942 0.27326
1941 0.32865
1940 0.36603
1939 0.45458
1938 0.48640
1937 0.55273
1936 0.69486
1935 0.74831
1934 0.68507
1933 0.65730
1932 0.63169
1931 0.57905
1930 0.55273
1929 0.55908
1928 0.59317
1927 0.59317
1926 0.61570
1925 0.81067
1924 0.86857
1923 0.99265
1922 1.08089
1921 1.05739
1920 0.91774
1919 1.28000
1918 1.56903
1917 2.02667
1916 2.43200
1915 2.70223
1914 3.24267
1913 3.24267
1912 3.24267
1911 3,24267

Methodological supplements and precautions

The deflator used by the experts for each year is the annual average of the published general price index, which covers the broadest population aggregate. We take the index for all urban households whose head is a manual or non-manual employee through to 1992 and the index for all households in mainland France as of 1993, when it was first published.

Starting in January 1999, the index used in the table covers all households in mainland France and the French overseas departements.

Users of these data should note that data robustness decreases as the time periods stretch into the past and that these data cannot be used as legally binding references.

The euro and French franc purchasing power indicator is suitable for measuring monetary erosion related to household consumption. However, it is not suitable for measuring the monetary erosion of assets made up of real estate and financial instruments not included in the general price index.

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The full tables can be used for other conversions, such as converting into past French francs or euros values expressed in 2009 euros.