In 1979 the minimum wage was $2.90 & the price of a 1st Class Stamp was $0.15.
According to my table, the minimum wage should have been $8.51 at the end of 2009 to keep prices with the First Class Stamp.
Minimum Wage Data – http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/chart.htm
First Class Stamp Data – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_United_States_postage_rates
| Year | Actual Minimum Wage | Estimated Minimum Wage | 1st Class Stamp | % of increase for stamps. | ||
| 1979 | 2.9 | 0.15 | ||||
| 1980 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 0.15 | 1 | ||
| 1981 | 3.35 | 3.87 | 0.2 | 1.33 | ||
| 1985 | 3.35 | 4.25 | 0.22 | 1.1 | ||
| 1988 | 3.35 | 4.83 | 0.25 | 1.14 | ||
| 1990 | 4.25 | 4.83 | 0.25 | 1 | ||
| 1994 | 4.25 | 5.61 | 0.29 | 1.16 | ||
| 1995 | 4.25 | 6.19 | 0.32 | 1.1 | ||
| 1996 | 4.75 | 6.19 | 0.32 | 1 | ||
| 1999 | 5.15 | 6.38 | 0.33 | 1.03 | ||
| 2001 | 5.15 | 6.57 | 0.34 | 1.03 | ||
| 2002 | 5.15 | 7.15 | 0.37 | 1.09 | ||
| 2006 | 5.15 | 7.54 | 0.39 | 1.05 | ||
| 2007 | 5.85 | 7.54 | 0.39 | 1 | ||
| 2008 | 6.55 | 8.12 | 0.42 | 1.08 | ||
| 2009 | 7.25 | 8.51 | 0.44 | 1.05 | ||