libartsreader

6 ms·

1. 1.▲
   by libartsreader 5mo ago

   Shelter, groceries, healthcare, and education comprise 53.2% of the CPI bundle.
2. 2.▲
   by libartsreader 5mo ago

   US households faced much higher costs than you recall. According to the BLS, mean monthly expenditures were $44.75 on landline service, $13.50 on cable TV, and $12.33 on newspapers. That’s $70.33 in 1996 USD, or ~$193 in 2026 USD. More hous
3. 3.▲
   by libartsreader 5mo ago

   The assertion that the CPI simultaneously overlooks downward product substitution and prices in product improvements in order to paint an overly-rosy picture is belied by the fact that most stuff is cheaper than it’s ever been. Thirty years
4. 4.▲
   by libartsreader 5mo ago

   What start date would you prefer? https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q
5. 5.▲
   by libartsreader 5mo ago

   The CPI doesn’t arbitrarily “swap in” items. It changes based on consumer behavior. That’s why it now tracks streaming services but not VCRs. Similarly, if the price of Gala apples triples and everyone switches to Fuji, a fixed index would