Would it not matter if the ratio to how much you make per hour is the same as merchandise? For example if I made 15 an hour and gas was 5 dollars a gallon. In one hour of work I can buy 3 gallons. If during inflation gas rose to 15 dollars a gallon and my wage went up to 45 per hour the ratio stays the same.
A post on here reminded me of this. It said back in early 1900s someone made 1000 a year and bought their house for 3000. In the current time you can buy a house for 150k. It's not going to be the greatest but if you made 50k a year that is still the same ratio as back then.