Inflation

I notice it but nothing significant so far.

I have just started looking at the Medicare drug formulary tiers for next year and am concerned about the way some of the newer upper tier drugs will be priced. I may drop a couple that I currently use in favor of some less expensive generic items.

I’m glad it’s just me and that I don’t have to meet the expectations of young folks.

I’ll be fine.
 
I just saw a story on the news today that the cost of heating your home this winter will be about 30% more than last year.
 

The cost of Everything seems to have gone up over the past year. The "official" government numbers seem to be hovering in the 5 to 6% range, but most people are likely finding their costs rising in the 10 to 15% range. Normally gas prices at the pump are usually coming down by this time, but they are showing no signs of reduction, yet. Grocery prices, in our area, are at least 10% above what they were a year ago. Restaurant prices....especially the fast food joints....have increased their costs by 50%, in some cases. Those having to buy a new, or nice used car. are taking a major hit to their wallets.

There will probably be a good boost to the SS payments in a couple of months.....almost enough extra to buy an extra loaf of bread.
 
Caught a youtube video the other evening, claiming that the supply chain disruption is the cause if the price increases.

Probably a HUGE contributing factor.

Will prices fall once we get to closer to 'normal?' I fear not. Discretionary income is in our past...
 
I'm doing OK. I spend too much on food because I can buy junk (chips, popcorn) stuff I certainly don't need.

I shop thrift stores and have found a good supply of books lately. I have plenty of yarn, fabric and craft supplies. Doesn't mean I wouldn't buy more.

My tabby was in the vet for blood in her urine and has a follow up next week. So that's an expense but my cats get what they need. Then I have carpel tunnel surgery on my R hand coming up so there will probably be some deductible stuff. They do it right in the office and you can drive yourself home afterwards. No sedation. He said it takes about 8 minutes and as long as I'm not afraid of needles it's faster and cheaper than the surgery center. I'm in.
 
When have prices ever fallen? What can you buy that is cheaper than it was 10 years ago?

What is needed is a constitutional amendment: "Congress shall not pass any law that does not apply equally to them."
 
Everything is a lot more expensive here. No way am I going to pay over $16 for a small pot roast. I used to buy them, buy one get one free, for no more than half that.
 
SmoothSeas said:
Caught a youtube video the other evening, claiming that the supply chain disruption is the cause if the price increases.

Probably a HUGE contributing factor.

Will prices fall once we get to closer to 'normal?' I fear not. Discretionary income is in our past...
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Plus the impact of covid safety in businesses, such as plexiglass partitions and stuff, and the stimulus acts, increased unemployment, etc.
 
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Yeah, stuff has gone up in price. A year or two ago, a meal at Burger King was about $8, now it's about $12. My favorite "Asian" buffet was about $12, now it's $20. Around here, it used to be to get a repairman to come to the house cost at lest $100. The plumber was here two days ago, and the fee to come to your home was $200, (with a senior discount).
 
Chicken is still cheap. Tyson boneless chicken breasts were on sale last week for $1.69/lb while steak was like $10.00/lb. Fish is reasonably priced. Red meat prices have really skyrocketed for some reason... maybe because they require more land and care than fish or chicken. I just wish factory farms were outlawed so I wouldn't have to think about the conditions in which chickens or cattle are raised. I try to buy free range when it's on sale.
 
Irwin said:
Chicken is still cheap.
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We live in "Tyson" country....with a big processing plant about 25 miles away, and dozens of large chicken/turkey farms throughout the area. The processing plant is largely staffed by "Latino" labor....many of whom may not be here legally...but are willing to work hard. A big Smithfield plant, near Kansas City, processes beef and pork, and has been largely shut down due to this virus, and it's workers getting generous government unemployment benefits, until just recently. Labor issues are one of the bigger contributors to food prices.

These large "factory" farms Do raise the poultry under somewhat questionable conditions....But, if chickens and turkeys were raised in a free range environment, prices would be far higher than what most people would want to pay.

The biggest concern I have with chicken and turkey is all the growth hormones being added to their feed, so they can be market ready in half the time nature takes. I'm convinced that these hormones remain in the flesh, and contribute to our nations increasing Obesity issues.
 
"I'm convinced that these hormones remain in the flesh, and contribute to our nations increasing Obesity issues." --Dom M

Well, I have know idea if that's the case but... A month or so ago, I purchased some cooked chicken wings in the deli at the grocery store. I bit into this wing and it was so fat and gross I've been off chicken for weeks. (pitched the whole package.) Haven't even purchased bacon and I love bacon.
 
One of the biggest reasons for Inflation, in recent weeks, is the increasing price for fuel. Crude oil prices are showing no signs of going down, and natural gas prices are going up as Winter approaches. The price of Virtually Everything we buy has the costs of transportation factored in. Various things....storms damaging refineries, government decisions, etc., etc., have all combined to create a perfect storm of conditions which will add substantially to consumer prices for the foreseeable future.
 
Don M. said:
We live in "Tyson" country....with a big processing plant about 25 miles away, and dozens of large chicken/turkey farms throughout the area. The processing plant is largely staffed by "Latino" labor....many of whom may not be here legally...but are willing to work hard. A big Smithfield plant, near Kansas City, processes beef and pork, and has been largely shut down due to this virus, and it's workers getting generous government unemployment benefits, until just recently. Labor issues are one of the bigger contributors to food prices.

These large "factory" farms Do raise the poultry under somewhat questionable conditions....But, if chickens and turkeys were raised in a free range environment, prices would be far higher than what most people would want to pay.

The biggest concern I have with chicken and turkey is all the growth hormones being added to their feed, so they can be market ready in half the time nature takes. I'm convinced that these hormones remain in the flesh, and contribute to our nations increasing Obesity issues.
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Yes, Chicken breasts now look like large turkey breasts.
 
It isn't impacting me. I mentioned in another post that my grocery bill is down an average of $26 a month. I don't buy much else except for personal care and household items and manage to get great discounts on them at Costco, Amazon, Lucky Vitamin and Dollar Tree. I micro manage my finances via a couple of spreadsheets (one that self tallies), so I always know what I'm spending.
 
I stopped at the local Walmart this morning to pick up a few items. One thing I wanted was a couple sacks of Corn Chips....to snack on. I've been paying $.88 a sack for years. Today, they were $1.28...I passed. If an item suddenly goes up nearly 50% in price, they can keep it.
 
A median income of $70k (is that gross or net?) sounds a lot in messed up Britain..

Some items have definitely increased in price here - fish for one has increased a lot. As for chicken, I've stopped buying cheap chicken - or as I call it, Tofu with feathers. No taste and poor texture. I buy higher quality ones (especially if I get them reduced) for about the equivalent $10 and I recon they're worth it. Fuel prices are shooting up here and the easiest way to double the value of your car is to fill the tank!

We have pensions that come in at different times each month, so I use a spreadsheet to keep an eye on them. As long as I've more coming in than I'm spending, I'm happy.
 
Don M. said:
I stopped at the local Walmart this morning to pick up a few items. One thing I wanted was a couple sacks of Corn Chips....to snack on. I've been paying $.88 a sack for years. Today, they were $1.28...I passed. If an item suddenly goes up nearly 50% in price, they can keep it.
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IN order to make up for the increased price, they probably also cut back on the contents by several ounces. Look at it this way, the chips are now low cal, when you eat the whole bag you will be taking in fewer calories. It's now a much healthier snack option. Just another way they are looking out for us little guys,
 
A basic definition of inflation is "Too many dollars chasing too few goods". In the U.S., I wonder just what people thought would happen with the government pumping TRILLIONS of dollars of borrowed money into the economy. On top of that, the percentage of every tax dollar that the government has to spend on debt interest is going through the roof.

Many of us here are old enough to remember the double digit inflation of the 1960s and '70s. It was very hard on everyone, especially those on fixed incomes. With a national debt of almost 29 trillion dollars and our congress continuing to spend money like a kid with a credit card, we're in for some very difficult times indeed.
 
Don M. said:
We live in "Tyson" country....with a big processing plant about 25 miles away, and dozens of large chicken/turkey farms throughout the area. The processing plant is largely staffed by "Latino" labor....many of whom may not be here legally...but are willing to work hard. A big Smithfield plant, near Kansas City, processes beef and pork, and has been largely shut down due to this virus, and it's workers getting generous government unemployment benefits, until just recently. Labor issues are one of the bigger contributors to food prices.

These large "factory" farms Do raise the poultry under somewhat questionable conditions....But, if chickens and turkeys were raised in a free range environment, prices would be far higher than what most people would want to pay.

The biggest concern I have with chicken and turkey is all the growth hormones being added to their feed, so they can be market ready in half the time nature takes. I'm convinced that these hormones remain in the flesh, and contribute to our nations increasing Obesity issues.
Click to expand...
I looked up the price of turkeys that were raised in an ideal environment for the turkeys. I can't remember what the phrase was that I didn't recognize at the time. Anyway, a nice big Thanksgiving turkey cost $178. I don't think any of the places I looked at shipped outside of their broad area. Anyway, I was shocked at the price. I expected it to be more, but not that much more.
 
No Thanksgiving day here - Turkeys are almost exclusively for Christmas. A reasonable quality one will be around the equivalent of $30-$50. If you want a fresh 'free range' bird, you'll probably pay twice that.
 

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