The Wealth of Nations
I.11. Prices of Wheat
6 s
Section summary
Smith’s appendix of wheat prices: Fleetwood’s collection from 1202 to 1601, in twelve-year averages, and the Eton College accounts of Windsor market from 1595 to 1764, the evidence behind the digression on silver.
1
| Years | Price of the quarter of wheat each year | Average of the different prices of the same year | The average price of each year in money of the present times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1202 | £0 12s. 0d. | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1205 | £0 12s. 0d.; £0 13s. 4d.; £0 15s. 0d. | £0 13s. 5d. | £2 0s. 3d. |
| 1223 | £0 12s. 0d. | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1237 | £0 3s. 4d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| 1243 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 6s. 0d. | |
| 1244 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 6s. 0d. | |
| 1246 | £0 16s. 0d. | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1247 | £0 13s. 4d. | £2 0s. 0d. | |
| 1257 | £1 4s. 0d. | £3 12s. 0d. | |
| 1258 | £1 0s. 0d.; £0 15s. 0d.; £0 16s. 0d. | £0 17s. 0d. | £2 11s. 0d. |
| 1270 | £4 16s. 0d.; £6 8s. 0d. | £5 12s. 0d. | £16 16s. 0d. |
| 1286 | £0 2s. 8d.; £0 16s. 0d. | £0 9s. 4d. | £1 8s. 0d. |
| Total | £35 9s. 3d. | ||
| Average price | £2 19s. 1¼d. | ||
| 1287 | £0 3s. 4d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| 1288 | £0 0s. 8d.; £0 1s. 0d.; £0 1s. 4d.; £0 1s. 6d.; £0 1s. 8d.; £0 2s. 0d.; £0 3s. 4d.; £0 9s. 4d. | £0 3s. 0¼d. | £0 9s. 1¾d. |
| 1289 | £0 12s. 0d.; £0 6s. 0d.; £0 2s. 0d.; £0 10s. 8d.; £1 0s. 0d. | £0 10s. 1½d. | £1 10s. 4½d. |
| 1290 | £0 16s. 0d. | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1294 | £0 16s. 0d. | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1302 | £0 4s. 0d. | £0 12s. 0d. | |
| 1309 | £0 7s. 2d. | £1 1s. 6d. | |
| 1315 | £1 0s. 0d. | £3 0s. 0d. | |
| 1316 | £1 0s. 0d.; £1 10s. 0d.; £1 12s. 0d.; £2 0s. 0d. | £1 10s. 6d. | £4 11s. 6d. |
| 1317 | £2 4s. 0d.; £0 14s. 0d.; £2 13s. 0d.; £4 0s. 0d.; £0 6s. 8d. | £1 19s. 6d. | £5 18s. 6d. |
| 1336 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 6s. 0d. | |
| 1338 | £0 3s. 4d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| Total | £23 4s. 11¼d. | ||
| Average price | £1 18s. 8d. | ||
| 1339 | £0 9s. 0d. | £1 7s. 0d. | |
| 1349 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 5s. 2d. | |
| 1359 | £1 6s. 8d. | £3 2s. 2d. | |
| 1361 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 4s. 8d. | |
| 1363 | £0 15s. 0d. | £1 15s. 0d. | |
| 1369 | £1 0s. 0d.; £1 4s. 0d. | £1 2s. 0d. | £2 9s. 4d. |
| 1379 | £0 4s. 0d. | £0 9s. 4d. | |
| 1387 | £0 2s. 0d. | £0 4s. 8d. | |
| 1390 | £0 13s. 4d.; £0 14s. 0d.; £0 16s. 0d. | £0 14s. 5d. | £1 13s. 7d. |
| 1401 | £0 16s. 0d. | £1 17s. 6d. | |
| 1407 | £0 4s. 4¾d.; £0 3s. 4d. | £0 3s. 10d. | £0 8s. 10d. |
| 1416 | £0 16s. 0d. | £1 12s. 0d. | |
| Total | £15 9s. 4d. | ||
| Average price | £1 5s. 9½d. | ||
| 1423 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 16s. 0d. | |
| 1425 | £0 4s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1434 | £1 6s. 8d. | £2 13s. 4d. | |
| 1435 | £0 5s. 4d. | £0 10s. 8d. | |
| 1439 | £1 0s. 0d.; £1 6s. 8d. | £1 3s. 4d. | £2 6s. 8d. |
| 1440 | £1 4s. 0d. | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1444 | £0 4s. 4d.; £0 4s. 0d. | £0 4s. 2d. | £0 8s. 4d. |
| 1445 | £0 4s. 6d. | £0 9s. 0d. | |
| 1447 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 16s. 0d. | |
| 1448 | £0 6s. 8d. | £0 13s. 4d. | |
| 1449 | £0 5s. 0d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| 1451 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 16s. 0d. | |
| Total | £12 15s. 4d. | ||
| Average price | £1 1s. 3⅓d. | ||
| 1453 | £0 5s. 4d. | £0 10s. 8d. | |
| 1455 | £0 1s. 2d. | £0 2s. 4d. | |
| 1457 | £0 7s. 8d. | £0 15s. 4d. | |
| 1459 | £0 5s. 0d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| 1460 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 16s. 0d. | |
| 1463 | £0 2s. 0d.; £0 1s. 8d. | £0 1s. 10d. | £0 3s. 8d. |
| 1464 | £0 6s. 8d. | £0 10s. 0d. | |
| 1486 | £1 4s. 0d. | £1 17s. 0d. | |
| 1491 | £0 14s. 8d. | £1 2s. 0d. | |
| 1494 | £0 4s. 0d. | £0 6s. 0d. | |
| 1495 | £0 3s. 4d. | £0 5s. 0d. | |
| 1497 | £1 0s. 0d. | £1 11s. 0d. | |
| Total | £8 9s. 0d. | ||
| Average price | £0 14s. 1d. | ||
| 1499 | £0 4s. 0d. | £0 6s. 0d. | |
| 1504 | £0 5s. 8d. | £0 8s. 6d. | |
| 1521 | £1 0s. 0d. | £1 10s. 0d. | |
| 1551 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1553 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1554 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1555 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1556 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1557 | £0 8s. 0d.; £0 4s. 0d.; £0 5s. 0d.; £2 13s. 4d. | £0 17s. 8½d. | £0 17s. 8½d. |
| 1558 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1559 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1560 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| Total | £6 0s. 2½d. | ||
| Average price | £0 10s. 0½d. | ||
| 1561 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1562 | £0 8s. 0d. | £0 8s. 0d. | |
| 1574 | £2 16s. 0d.; £1 4s. 0d. | £2 0s. 0d. | £2 0s. 0d. |
| 1587 | £3 4s. 0d. | £3 4s. 0d. | |
| 1594 | £2 16s. 0d. | £2 16s. 0d. | |
| 1595 | £2 13s. 0d. | £2 13s. 0d. | |
| 1596 | £4 0s. 0d. | £4 0s. 0d. | |
| 1597 | £5 4s. 0d.; £4 0s. 0d. | £4 12s. 0d. | £4 12s. 0d. |
| 1598 | £2 16s. 8d. | £2 16s. 8d. | |
| 1599 | £1 19s. 2d. | £1 19s. 2d. | |
| 1600 | £1 17s. 8d. | £1 17s. 8d. | |
| 1601 | £1 14s. 10d. | £1 14s. 10d. | |
| Total | £28 9s. 4d. | ||
| Average price | £2 7s. 5½d. | ||
2
| Years | Wheat per quarter | 1731–1750, by ten years |
|---|---|---|
| 1595 | £2 0s. 0d. | |
| 1596 | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1597 | £3 9s. 6d. | |
| 1598 | £2 16s. 8d. | |
| 1599 | £1 19s. 2d. | |
| 1600 | £1 17s. 8d. | |
| 1601 | £1 14s. 10d. | |
| 1602 | £1 9s. 4d. | |
| 1603 | £1 15s. 4d. | |
| 1604 | £1 10s. 8d. | |
| 1605 | £1 15s. 10d. | |
| 1606 | £1 13s. 0d. | |
| 1607 | £1 16s. 8d. | |
| 1608 | £2 16s. 8d. | |
| 1609 | £2 10s. 0d. | |
| 1610 | £1 15s. 10d. | |
| 1611 | £1 18s. 8d. | |
| 1612 | £2 2s. 4d. | |
| 1613 | £2 8s. 8d. | |
| 1614 | £2 1s. 8½d. | |
| 1615 | £1 18s. 8d. | |
| 1616 | £2 0s. 4d. | |
| 1617 | £2 8s. 8d. | |
| 1618 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1619 | £1 15s. 4d. | |
| 1620 | £1 10s. 4d. | |
| Total of 26 years | £54 0s. 6½d. | |
| Average | £2 1s. 6¾d. | |
| 1621 | £1 10s. 4d. | |
| 1622 | £2 18s. 8d. | |
| 1623 | £2 12s. 0d. | |
| 1624 | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1625 | £2 12s. 0d. | |
| 1626 | £2 9s. 4d. | |
| 1627 | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1628 | £1 8s. 0d. | |
| 1629 | £2 2s. 0d. | |
| 1630 | £2 15s. 8d. | |
| 1631 | £3 8s. 0d. | |
| 1632 | £2 13s. 4d. | |
| 1633 | £2 18s. 0d. | |
| 1634 | £2 16s. 0d. | |
| 1635 | £2 16s. 0d. | |
| 1636 | £2 16s. 8d. | |
| Total of 16 years | £40 0s. 0d. | |
| Average | £2 10s. 0d. | |
| 1637 | £2 13s. 0d. | |
| 1638 | £2 17s. 4d. | |
| 1639 | £2 4s. 10d. | |
| 1640 | £2 4s. 8d. | |
| 1641 | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1642–1645 | Wanting in the account. The year 1646 supplied by Bishop Fleetwood. | |
| 1646 | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1647 | £3 13s. 0d. | |
| 1648 | £4 5s. 0d. | |
| 1649 | £4 0s. 0d. | |
| 1650 | £3 16s. 8d. | |
| 1651 | £3 13s. 4d. | |
| 1652 | £2 9s. 6d. | |
| 1653 | £1 15s. 6d. | |
| 1654 | £1 6s. 0d. | |
| 1655 | £1 13s. 4d. | |
| 1656 | £2 3s. 0d. | |
| 1657 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1658 | £3 5s. 0d. | |
| 1659 | £3 6s. 0d. | |
| 1660 | £2 16s. 6d. | |
| 1661 | £3 10s. 0d. | |
| 1662 | £3 14s. 0d. | |
| 1663 | £2 17s. 0d. | |
| 1664 | £2 0s. 6d. | |
| 1665 | £2 9s. 4d. | |
| 1666 | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1667 | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1668 | £2 0s. 0d. | |
| 1669 | £2 4s. 4d. | |
| 1670 | £2 1s. 8d. | |
| 1671 | £2 2s. 0d. | |
| 1672 | £2 1s. 0d. | |
| 1673 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1674 | £3 8s. 8d. | |
| 1675 | £3 4s. 8d. | |
| 1676 | £1 18s. 0d. | |
| 1677 | £2 2s. 0d. | |
| 1678 | £2 19s. 0d. | |
| 1679 | £3 0s. 0d. | |
| 1680 | £2 5s. 0d. | |
| 1681 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1682 | £2 4s. 0d. | |
| 1683 | £2 0s. 0d. | |
| 1684 | £2 4s. 0d. | |
| 1685 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1686 | £1 14s. 0d. | |
| 1687 | £1 5s. 2d. | |
| 1688 | £2 6s. 0d. | |
| 1689 | £1 10s. 0d. | |
| 1690 | £1 14s. 8d. | |
| 1691 | £1 14s. 0d. | |
| 1692 | £2 6s. 8d. | |
| 1693 | £3 7s. 8d. | |
| 1694 | £3 4s. 0d. | |
| 1695 | £2 13s. 0d. | |
| 1696 | £3 11s. 0d. | |
| 1697 | £3 0s. 0d. | |
| 1698 | £3 8s. 4d. | |
| 1699 | £3 4s. 0d. | |
| 1700 | £2 0s. 0d. | |
| Total of 60 years | £153 1s. 8d. | |
| Average | £2 11s. 0⅓d. | |
| 1701 | £1 17s. 8d. | |
| 1702 | £1 9s. 6d. | |
| 1703 | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1704 | £2 6s. 6d. | |
| 1705 | £1 10s. 0d. | |
| 1706 | £1 6s. 0d. | |
| 1707 | £1 8s. 6d. | |
| 1708 | £2 1s. 6d. | |
| 1709 | £3 18s. 6d. | |
| 1710 | £3 18s. 0d. | |
| 1711 | £2 14s. 0d. | |
| 1712 | £2 6s. 4d. | |
| 1713 | £2 11s. 0d. | |
| 1714 | £2 10s. 4d. | |
| 1715 | £2 3s. 0d. | |
| 1716 | £2 8s. 0d. | |
| 1717 | £2 5s. 8d. | |
| 1718 | £1 18s. 10d. | |
| 1719 | £1 15s. 0d. | |
| 1720 | £1 17s. 0d. | |
| 1721 | £1 17s. 6d. | |
| 1722 | £1 16s. 0d. | |
| 1723 | £1 14s. 8d. | |
| 1724 | £1 17s. 0d. | |
| 1725 | £2 8s. 6d. | |
| 1726 | £2 6s. 0d. | |
| 1727 | £2 2s. 0d. | |
| 1728 | £2 14s. 6d. | |
| 1729 | £2 6s. 10d. | |
| 1730 | £1 16s. 6d. | |
| 1731 | £1 12s. 10d. | £1 12s. 10d. |
| 1732 | £1 6s. 8d. | £1 6s. 8d. |
| 1733 | £1 8s. 4d. | £1 8s. 4d. |
| 1734 | £1 18s. 10d. | £1 18s. 10d. |
| 1735 | £2 3s. 0d. | £2 3s. 0d. |
| 1736 | £2 0s. 4d. | £2 0s. 4d. |
| 1737 | £1 18s. 0d. | £1 18s. 0d. |
| 1738 | £1 15s. 6d. | £1 15s. 6d. |
| 1739 | £1 18s. 6d. | £1 18s. 6d. |
| 1740 | £2 10s. 8d. | £2 10s. 8d. |
| Total of the ten years | £18 12s. 8d. | |
| Average | £1 17s. 3½d. | |
| 1741 | £2 6s. 8d. | £2 6s. 8d. |
| 1742 | £1 14s. 0d. | £1 14s. 0d. |
| 1743 | £1 4s. 10d. | £1 4s. 10d. |
| 1744 | £1 4s. 10d. | £1 4s. 10d. |
| 1745 | £1 7s. 6d. | £1 7s. 6d. |
| 1746 | £1 19s. 0d. | £1 19s. 0d. |
| 1747 | £1 14s. 10d. | £1 14s. 10d. |
| 1748 | £1 17s. 0d. | £1 17s. 0d. |
| 1749 | £1 17s. 0d. | £1 17s. 0d. |
| 1750 | £1 12s. 6d. | £1 12s. 6d. |
| Total of the ten years | £16 18s. 2d. | |
| Average | £1 13s. 9¾d. | |
| 1751 | £1 18s. 6d. | |
| 1752 | £2 1s. 10d. | |
| 1753 | £2 4s. 8d. | |
| 1754 | £1 13s. 8d. | |
| 1755 | £1 14s. 10d. | |
| 1756 | £2 5s. 3d. | |
| 1757 | £3 0s. 0d. | |
| 1758 | £2 10s. 0d. | |
| 1759 | £1 19s. 10d. | |
| 1760 | £1 16s. 6d. | |
| 1761 | £1 10s. 3d. | |
| 1762 | £1 19s. 0d. | |
| 1763 | £2 0s. 9d. | |
| 1764 | £2 6s. 9d. | |
| Total of 64 years | £129 13s. 6d. | |
| Average | £2 0s. 6¾d. | |