[xoxoxoBruce]

Here's 1938.

In 1938 Fritz earned 6000 Marks, what would his equivalent salary be today? (back to top)

First, using the tables immediately below, convert the 1938 Marks to 1938 dollars.
In 1938, 2.49M=$1 means 6000M=$2409.
Now go to the inflation calculators section below, and see what $2409 in 1938 would be worth today (in 2007, for instance). The various indexes yield the following results:
$35,449.74 using the Consumer Price Index
$29,454.14 using the GDP deflator
$83,618.18 using the value of consumer bundle * [*2007 data is still preliminary in July 2008]
$75,744.52 using the unskilled wage *
$166,511.68 using the nominal GDP per capita [good for estimating the "status" of that income]
$387,267.03 using the relative share of GDP [good for estimating the share of national wealth]
Which measure would be most appropriate? Read the explanatory page on that site, Choosing the Best Indicator to Measure Relative Worth. For a salary or annual income, you will see that the "Consumer Bundle" or "GDP per capita" would be the best measures.
For the value of a simple commodity (loaf of bread, gallon of gas), you'd use the CPI.
For the cost of a building or public works project, you'd use the GDP deflator.

Pre-WWI, 4.198 Marks to the $US.