While many complain about high food prices, housing costs, soaring healthcare bills, and utility dues, children are not left out of the craze as toys have also been affected by the inflation crisis. Playing things from the ‘50s and beyond now costs much more than the older generation can remember.
One of the popular affected toys is the Silly Putty, which debuted for a dollar in the mid-50s. The stretchy blob came in a cute egg-shaped holder. Others, like Star Wars action figures, have now gone from costing a dollar or two to up to 20 times more.
What is Silly Putty worth now?
Today, the Silly Putty costs $21.24, 2,000 percent more than its price seven decades ago. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index inflation calculator, the price of the Silly Putty on release is $11.73 in today’s money, meaning it costs about $9 more than it should.
Since its creation, Silly Putty has grown more popular, and the egg now comes in more colors, such as Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange, Purple, and Metallic shades for special pieces. Over 300 million Silly Putty eggs have reportedly been sold since the ‘50s.
Other toys hit by toyflation
Star Wars action figures now sell for $16 each on Amazon, while Transformer toys go for $25, unlike their $3 to $5 range in the early ‘80s. Silly Bandz became a thing in the late 2000s at $2.50 but now costs $3.95 for a pack of six.
On the contrary, toys like the Rubik’s cube sold for $7.49 in the ‘80s, which is $27.65 in today’s money. However, you can get them on Amazon for just $9.36 today. The toy likely debuted at such high prices due to its novelty and drastic global popularity after it was invented in 1974 by a Hungarian puzzler named Erno Rubik.