Opinion: Why Americans are bummed out about the economy | CNN
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Because grocery bills and rent prices are unlikely to return to where they were just a few short years ago, the psychological scars from the war on inflation will linger, write Dana M. Peterson and Erik Lundh.

US consumers remain unimpressed with this progress, however, because they remember what they were paying for things pre-pandemic. Used car prices are 34% higher, food prices are 26% higher and rent prices are 22% higher than in January 2020, according to our calculations using PCE data.

While these are some of the more extreme examples of recent price increases, the average basket of goods and services that most Americans buy in any given month is 17% more expensive than four years ago.

    • @[email protected]
      17•8 months ago

      It’s literally just wheat meal with honey, it costs literally 12 cents a box to make.

      The packaging is more expensive.

      But capitalism says ‘lol it’s ok to charge whatever!’.

      And 1/3 of the internet will defend them for ‘reasons’.

      • natecheese
        5•8 months ago

        Where did you get “it costs literally 12 cents a box”? Is that a random number for effect or do you have some insider knowledge and know that for sure?

        Either way is fine with me, just curious because it seems like a very small amount after paying for the raw materials, the workers wages, the shipping costs, and the grocery store overhead, etc.

      • @[email protected]
        4•8 months ago

        And 1/3 of the internet will defend them for 'reasons

        I’m one of the people that often jumps in on posts like these. It’s hardly defending them, hear me out.

        I’m not in the us, I looked at that picture for 45 seconds straight to understand what’s wrong with it, I assume it’s the price but I have no idea what that shit is so I had to read all the words on the package to understand if it was another issue…

        The good news is that your life doesn’t depend on eating this shit. Don’t like the price, don’t buy it.

        I hate how a serious issue, prices are going up is diluted down by people bringing in stupid arguments like Starbucks “coffee” costing a fortune or Netflix jacking up prices. My point I am not defending Graham, Starbucks nor Netflix, just stop buying overprinting that you don’t need or if you really do, stop complaining.

        Now if we want to talk about the price of actual groceries, like fruit vegetables and meat we can all have a serious convo

      • Flying Squid
        4•8 months ago

        I lived in L.A. Getting to a Walmart would be a big challenge in a lot of parts.