When converted to the value of one British pound Sterling in 2019, goods and services that cost one pound in 1210 would cost just over two thousand pounds in 2019, meaning that one pound in 1210 was worth approximately two thousand times more than it is today. This data can be used to calculate how much goods and services from the years shown would cost today, by multiplying the price from then by the number shown in the graph. For example, an item that cost 50 pounds in 1970 would theoretically cost 780 pounds in 2019's money.

The pound to euro history reveals that exchange rates in 2022 were not as low as they were during 2008 or since the Brexit referendum. Since the United Kingdom (UK) held a referendum on its European Union membership in June 2016, the British pound (GBP) weakened against the euro. From a high of 1.43 at the end of November 2015, the GBP to EUR exchange rate has remained below 1.2 since July 2016, sitting at 1.11 as of October 2020. By July 22, 2025, values had reached 1.15 euros per pound. The euro to pound exchange rate can be found on a different page.Hitting UK citizens' pocketsIt is not just European holidaymakers that are hit when the British pound to Euro exchange rate falls. The average UK consumer also feels the pinch as inflation rates often rise to cover the shortfall of the pound. When the inflation rate rises, the price of imported goods goes up and the consumer ends up paying more. GBP to U.S. dollarSince 2016's referendum, the British pound (GBP) fell across the exchange. The GBP's fall against the Euro was also reflected against the U.S. dollar where the exchange rate in May 2016 (pre-referendum) of 1.46 dollars to the pound has fallen significantly.

As of August 1, 2023, one U.S. dollar could buy 21,021.7 Sierra Leonean leones (SLL), the highest exchange rate among the African currencies. Furthermore, one U.S. dollar corresponded to 758.9 Nigerian naira (NGN), 30.85 Egyptian pounds (EGP), 18.03 South African rand (ZAR), and 9.86 Moroccan dirhams (MAD) as of the same date.

Exchange rates and inflation: a case study of West African countries

Exchange rates can affect a country's inflation rate and the purchasing power of its currency. If a country's currency depreciates significantly, it can lead to higher inflation as the cost of imported goods and services increases. Indeed, the inflation rate in Sierra Leone increased steeply over the past two years. The IMF further estimates that inflation will continue to rise before falling again. This high inflation and other factors also led to the depreciation of the SLL. Furthermore, a regional perspective showed that Nigeria and Liberia faced similar high inflation rates.

Businesses' strategies for tackling inflation

Unfavorable exchange rates negatively impact countries' economies. It does this in various ways, including limiting businesses' ability to grow. Issues such as inflation affect purchasing power and businesses' investment decisions. In 2023, a survey revealed that a substantial number of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employed various measures to offset the impact of inflation. Approximately 36 percent of these businesses tapped into their personal savings to bolster their operations, while another 32 percent opted to scale down their business activities.