Do prices of things surprise you?

[Jim Bow]

When my dad was 75 (20 years ago, RIP) he was constantly surprised at what common things cost. He once paid $5 for a haircut and complained to me that he used to get his haircut for 25 cents!

Well, today I paid $15 for a quart of denatured alcohol. I complained to my wife.
Her response, “Don’t give me the 25 cent haircut story.”

[bluedog225]

It’s out of control. Going to get worse. Was avoidable. Hope fed has the courage to endure the howls of protest. Wood is still stupid high.

[Stiletto]

I am constantly made aware that my idea of a good price is about 20 years out of date.

[JayInOz]

I remember when we paid four cents a litre for diesel here. Yesterday it was $2.49 a litre. JayInOz

[Jim Bow]

$100 is the new $20.

[bluedog225]

Though the house across the street just went on the market at about $500 grand below what I expected. And it’s been on the market for a week. Unusual for it to make it to a public listing.

[Paul Pless]

$15 for a quart of denatured alcohol

a fifth of cheap vodka would be cheaper

[gypsie]

I used to think $1,000 was a lot of money - then I bought a boat.

[LeeG]

Nope, there are too many things to keep track of.

[Garret]

Yes inflation is higher than normal in the US and we all know it's Biden's fault. Oh wait - inflation is higher in almost every other industrialized country than it is here - that must be Biden's fault too.

My old '38 Chevy 1 1/2 ton truck cost $645 new - including the optional $12 heater. 2 years ago I bought a 6 year old almost 100K miles truck for 20K & had friends in the business tell me it was a pretty good buy.

Prices & incomes change - though the lowest paying jobs never seem to keep up do they? One would almost think it was on purpose...

[wizbang 13]

pfffft
the usa is cheap and inexpensive

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

I'm frequently surprised by the prices of things I no longer buy....

My first pint of lager in a respectable London pub cost 25p, yesterday I learned that the current going rate is close to eight squid!

I gather that tobacco has done something similar.

Ten years ago I could convert the prices of my youth by multiplying by ten, looks like I should be using thirty two.

[bamamick]

As the American government does whatever it can to keep gasoline prices as low as possible, no one seems to care that diesel is two dollars a gallon higher than gas, and because of that the price of everything continues to keep going up and up since 90% (probably closer to 99.9%) of everything we consume in this country is delivered by a diesel truck.

Mickey Lake

[Dan McCosh]

The purchasing power of the dollar has dropped about 90% since the 1960s. Some cheer this on, some wring their hands.

[LeeG]

As the American government does whatever it can to keep gasoline prices as low as possible, no one seems to care that diesel is two dollars a gallon higher than gas, and because of that the price of everything continues to keep going up and up since 90% (probably closer to 99.9%) of everything we consume in this country is delivered by a diesel truck.

Mickey Lake

seems reasonable, one 40,000lb semi causes as much road wear as a few thousand cars.

[Too Little Time]

The global median is about $2000/person. Those below the median have different thoughts about prices.

[heimlaga]

The finance market has been creating new money out of thin ar for decades. Governments supported big finance with lots and lots of borrowed money in 2008-09 The rich kept enough of that money inside the finance market to give some apparent stability to to economy of ordinary people. Then came the corona with governments feeding the market with even more borroed money until it almost choked.
Then came the Ukrane war and the **** hit the fan.
The rich own pretty much everything and our purchase power is dwindling.

The only way to get out of this is to collectively keep boiling the Russian frog until it dies all while taxing the rich heavily to bleed that imaginary money out of the system and reinstate some sort of ballance.

[Chip-skiff]

My first pint of lager in a respectable London pub cost 25p, yesterday I learned that the current going rate is close to eight squid!

How many squid equal an octopus?

Or is that a red herring?

[Too Little Time]

The rich own pretty much everything and our purchase power is dwindling.

The only way to get out of this is to ... all while taxing the rich heavily to bleed that imaginary money out of the system and reinstate some sort of balance.

There is certainly some truth in what you say.

I am not sure that the money is imaginary or not. Stock market returns are not out of line with historical numbers.

I am not sure what you consider "rich". I look at households with twice the median income. That misses many of the rich who have no "income", those who live off of assets with taxable gains and spend less than the median income would be one class of such households. One has to consider what type of economic equality one is seeking.

The political issue is that a good number of households think they are middle class and suffering while they are actually rich and doing well.

There is a serious population issue also. The population has doubled since I was born 70 years ago. That means these households that were at the median have children and grand children who might be at the median, but there are twice the number of households above them as their (grand)parents. That means the children and grand children have to live in less desirable places or spend more than they think they should.

[LeeG]

I’m still surprised how inexpensive bicycles are inflation adjusted compared to 40 yrs ago.

[Too Little Time]

I’m still surprised how inexpensive bicycles are inflation adjusted compared to 40 yrs ago.

Electronics are cheap also.

I certainly have more disposable income now at age 70 than at age 30. That gives me a different view of prices.

When I was 30 or 40, my wife and I were concerned about the price of gas to the extent that when we visited relative we knew where the cheap gas stations were. And where the cheap hotels were. We even packed food for trips. Now, we know where the brands we prefer are. And we buy food on the way.

[soap94]

Well I am not going to lie and don't want to sound old... BUT! Prices indeed are growing faster than my income. That's the sad truth. You've mentioned about haircut cut price... Have you been to fancy barbershop to trim your beard or do a taper haircut ? If you want to look like this it will cost you a fortune my friend

tapered-faux-hawk.jpg

[George Jung]

If I could look like that, I might spring for the $$$!

Most important - do the wimmin' like it?

[Jim Mahan]

If I wanted to look like that, I'd need some hair translants and beard plugs, if they make such a thing. Gonna be pricey. Last haircut I paid for was a double sawbuck, and that was at least ten years ago. I'm married to my regular barber. Some might think that's a stiff price to pay, but I wouldn't say that—She has ears like an eagle. In fact, She can prolly hear me poking the keyboard about Her. It'll be hell to pay any moment, when She wakes up. So some prices, while high, seem to have reached a ceiling; I'll never have to pay more than hell for such transgressions. Of course all those hell payments only serve the interest, while the principle remains untouched. Funny how economics is so intertwined.

[Garret]

Haircuts have definitely gotten more expensive. I too would have to get some serious plugs to have that much hair, but I let what I still have get pretty shaggy before getting it cut. Around here, a regular barber is at least $15US - most around $20 + a tip.

[LeeG]

It would cost a fortune for me to look like that. But I did shower and shave and gawd do I look mahvelous. Although I an surprised to see I have bigger jowls than my older brother.

[John Smith]

I remember gas costing less than 30 cents a gallon. A new car was $2000, some more of course.

Question is one of prices going up faster than wages, which I believe they have been. Record profits must come from somewhere.

[George Jung]

Need a KW set of charts, comparing prices/wages over the years. I think they've remained 'steady', even 'improved', with some notable exceptions.

[soap94]

If I could look like that, I might spring for the $$$!

Most important - do the wimmin' like it?

Ha-ha exactly. Not saying that's my end goal but just was surprised with the $$$ amount you have to pay to maintain this style.

[George Jung]

Luckily, I've never 'been a slave to fashion'. Meh.

[Garret]

I remember gas costing less than 30 cents a gallon. A new car was $2000, some more of course.

Question is one of prices going up faster than wages, which I believe they have been. Record profits must come from somewhere.

And the minimum wage was $1.25 unless you were a farm worker, then it was more like $1.00...

[Nicholas Scheuer]

Most people work for wages so that they can. Next time someone complains that gasoline used to cost 25 cents per gallon in the USA, ask them what people in the same line of work as them were paid back when gasoline was 25 cents. "$100 is the new $20" stated above is a fact.

[sp_clark]

Most people work for wages so that they can. Next time someone complains that gasoline used to cost 25 cents per gallon in the USA, ask them what people in the same line of work as them were paid back when gasoline was 25 cents. "$100 is the new $20" stated above is a fact.

$0.25 in 1967 is the $2.25 in your pocket change today. That $100 you're referring to will end up suckling $900 out of your checking account these days, at least according to US CPI numbers for the period.

$3.63/ hr I earned as a railroad brakeman in 1968 works out to less than half what I'm earning now as a hardware store part-timer but given the risk vs. reward I don't much mind the difference at my age.

[Norman Bernstein]

.
When I was 30 or 40, my wife and I were concerned about the price of gas to the extent that when we visited relative we knew where the cheap gas stations were. And where the cheap hotels were. We even packed food for trips. Now, we know where the brands we prefer are. And we buy food on the way.

In my college days, a station located just behind Northeastern University was charging $0.249 per gallon for regular. I trip down to NJ to see my folks, from Boston, cost me $5... $2.50 for gas, and $2.50 in tolls.

I don't wring my hands about inflation; I lived through the inflationary early '80's, when mortgages cost 14%... and CD's were paying 17%. When I bought my house in 1977, my 8% mortgage was considered to be an exceptionally low rate... which makes me smile a bit when people complain about 5.5% mortgages today.

It's all cyclical... and yes, a lot of people are hurt by inflation, but the only thing guaranteed about the future is that it will change. Hopefully, for the better, at least.

[leikec]

I cut my own hair. It doesn’t take very long. The worst haircut I could ever give myself couldn’t do that much to harm my overall appearance, and the most expensive haircut I could buy wouldn’t help me look any better…

Jeff C