Steve Sells Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 My son is working on a project and would like info on what the price of steel was in the Southern USA in 1905 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Johnston Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 These are just average annual prices, and not tied to a region, published by USGS. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2012/5188/sir2012-5188.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjjl8yPpo34AhUqm44IHU7vB2kQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3IYmIb62h8rx0caf3TsXql Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 An interesting twist on this is that the cost of steel appears to have been advancing at a higher rate than general inflation. The US Dept. of Labor's inflation calulator only goes back to 1913 and the chart as posted only goes up to 1954 but $1 in 1913 had the purchasing power of $2.72 in 1954. The cost of $1 of steel in 1913 was $3.05 in 1954. Also, I assume that the published steel prices were FOB at the steel mill and transportation and middleman and retailer profit and overhead would be added to the retail price. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Johnston Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 That was my read as well. ("Pittsburgh base", listed at bottom) That's just a screenshot, if you go to the first link, you can read not only the full chart, but there are historical prices for iron, aluminum, and many other metals. For each metal, they try to list significant historical events that they think might affect pricing. I think to find the resale price you'd have to find a catalog from that region for that time period. I remember someone posting a tool catalog on here that sold stock, but I believe it was from late 19th century. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Johnston Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Perhaps if I can find it, and there is overlap with the USGS table, I will try to extrapolate the margin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goods Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 At work I would be afraid to calculate how many tons of steel we process a day. (We are a large automotive supplier, lots metal stamping, roll forming, machining, welding…). We pay a pretty good price, but from the prices we pay the cost of steel has gone up at least 10 times over inflation. Really interesting! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M Johnston Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Interesting. From where you stand, how much would you estimate has been directly caused by tariffs, and various methods prior to try to mitigate the dumping of inferior alloys? Have you noticed any correlation between economic actions and what you see on the purchasing end of things? If so, what are your conclusions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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