The Franc in the 20th century

5 francs (Victor Hugo)

It's hard to imagine when buying a TSF radio for 20 or 30 euros today what the financial effort of the initial purchase meant back then. How many months of salary for a notary, a baker, etc.? INSEE statisticians have compiled household consumption baskets throughout the last century. They have established correction tables in constant francs from 1909 to 2001 and in constant euros beyond that.
You may wonder:

• how much 100 francs were worth in 1930,
• how much a Philips HF488A from 1954 would cost today?
• ...

This tool relies on the annual INSEE report on inflation and the variation of the cost of living in France since 1901. It is based on the following data sources: Parisian series until 1962, Urban households until 1992, Metropolitan France since 1993, and Metropolitan France + DOM since 1999. Simply enter the year and the amount in francs or euros according to the given year in the fields below, then click the ENTER button. The calculator automatically determines the currency based on the entered year. From 2002 onwards in euros, from 1960 to 2001 in francs, from 1901 to 1959 in old francs.
Calculations are based on INSEE's updated figures for the year 2023, published in May 2024 (next update: May 2025).

Philips 930A (Jambon)

This Philips 930A radio was sold for 1500 francs in 1932. That would be equivalent to 1167,93 euros today.

SPECIFICATIONS
4-tube "MINIWATT" radio with one rectifier tube -- Illuminated dial -- Wave range from 200 to 200 meters -- Power switch -- Special connection for speaker and pick-up -- Built-in anti-interference filters -- Special antenna socket for local and distant stations -- "Arbolite" cabinet -- Universal transformer for various AC voltages.

10 Francs Banknote (1932)

Fixed Prices:
930A, 50 Hz AC. 1500 Frs
930A, 25 Hz AC. 1,600 Frs
930C, DC. 1,500 Frs