Inflation: Not as low as you think

jmski52

Is Target is losing business and is cutting prices because their inventory is a drag on their finances? I can think of more than one reason why that might be happening.

derryb

Why Nobody Believes The CPI Data

"For starters, CPI excludes several significant costs faced by households today - ranging from property taxes to soaring interest payments."

And what happens to the data when we throw in home and auto insurance spikes?

tincup

@jmski52 said:
Is Target is losing business and is cutting prices because their inventory is a drag on their finances? I can think of more than one reason why that might be happening.

Yep. from on news source:

"
New York CNN —

Target, a barometer of the American consumer, said its sales last year fell for the first time since 2016. Now it’s predicting a sluggish 2024 as shoppers are weighed down by higher prices. "

tincup

And, from the first site when I looked for reviews of the store, 67% negative one star reviews, to only 18% positive 5 star reviews?? Something going on with them? (not going to look any further, so not sure if this is just one site, or is a common trend for the store).

Guess I can see why they may be cutting prices.

tincup

And I doubt the reduced prices at Target are all due to 'disinflation'.

jmski52

Maybe they'd do better to offer gold & silver.

tincup

@jmski52 said:
Maybe they'd do better to offer gold & silver.

I think they would do better! But from what I read and see the few times in the stores.... not the type of merchandise they would seem to be interested in.

RedneckHB

@jmski52 said:
Is Target is losing business and is cutting prices because their inventory is a drag on their finances? I can think of more than one reason why that might be happening.

https://www.foodandwine.com/walmart-cutting-prices-on-7000-items-8697877

Would you apply that reasoning to Walmart?

derryb

That's why I chose COST.

derryb

A misleading CPI calculation is like letting a student grade his own paper.

distortions of economic data mislead the people regarding the true state of the economy

BLUEJAYWAY

@jmski52 said:
Maybe they'd do better to offer gold & silver.

I only drop in for sports cards sales.

RedneckHB

.> @derryb said:

That's why I chose COST.

https://www.ksby.com/business/company-news/costco-reports-that-its-dropping-prices-on-many-items-heres-why

I'd guess jmski would say they are losing business and not doing well.

jmski52

I'd guess jmski would say they are losing business and not doing well.

No, jmski wouldn't say that. He would read all 3 articles and find out that each of these three companies reduced prices in different ways with varying results and gave varying reasons for doing so.

tincup

@derryb said:
A misleading CPI calculation is like letting a student grade his own paper.

distortions of economic data mislead the people regarding the true state of the economy

Can't trust any of the numbers anymore. A disturbing trend the last couple of years. High CPI and employment numbers, etc. being announced, and after a lapse months later are significantly adjusted downwards. Low inflation numbers announced and... well we know the story there. The miraculous covid vaccine success and safety... yeah right.

Some on this forum say believe the 'facts', and 'the truth will set you free'; but that is meaningless unless one can trust the numbers and info. All smoke and mirrors and manipulated to meet the goals of the ones in control.

tincup

Welcome to the machine.

RedneckHB

@tincup said:

@derryb said:
A misleading CPI calculation is like letting a student grade his own paper.

distortions of economic data mislead the people regarding the true state of the economy

Can't trust any of the numbers anymore. A disturbing trend the last couple of years. High CPI and employment numbers, etc. being announced, and after a lapse months later are significantly adjusted downwards. Low inflation numbers announced and... well we know the story there. The miraculous covid vaccine success and safety... yeah right.

Some on this forum say believe the 'facts', and 'the truth will set you free'; but that is meaningless unless one can trust the numbers and info. All smoke and mirrors and manipulated to meet the goals of the ones in control.

Sounds like theyve got you. Trust nothing.

jmski52

Some on this forum say believe the 'facts', and 'the truth will set you free'; but that is meaningless unless one can trust the numbers and info. All smoke and mirrors and manipulated to meet the goals of the ones in control.

Sounds like theyve got you. Trust nothing.

Sounds like YOU believe the bogus numbers, smoke and mirrors.

RedneckHB

@jmski52 said:
Some on this forum say believe the 'facts', and 'the truth will set you free'; but that is meaningless unless one can trust the numbers and info. All smoke and mirrors and manipulated to meet the goals of the ones in control.

Sounds like theyve got you. Trust nothing.

Sounds like YOU believe the bogus numbers, smoke and mirrors.

Sounds like YOU believe the bogus numbers, smoke and mirrors.

Yeah, this is an easy game to play.

You see how they manipulate us.

We are weak.

So how about some inflation numbers? How much is ground beef this year vs last?

Hey, at least our PMs are inflatin'. Whoohoo!!

blitzdude

Just got the 500 Gallon propane tank topped off. $1.67 a gallon vs $2.12 this time last year and $2.57 a gallon in Jan 2023. RGDS!

derryb

@cohodk said:

Hey, at least our PMs are inflatin'. Whoohoo!!

That's how dollar insurance works when the paper shrinks

derryb

Interest rates down, mortgage rates up. What does that tell you?

Tells me the market determines real rates. Rate set by the FED is simply the rate paid between banks for overnight loans.

Like silver the base price (FED interest rate) is set by a bunch colluding, price fixing criminals. Yet the market works from this base price making changes based on actual supply and demand. In the case of silver this change is called the premium.

derryb

@blitzdude said:
Just got the 500 Gallon propane tank topped off. $1.67 a gallon vs $2.12 this time last year and $2.57 a gallon in Jan 2023. RGDS!

If you live in the northeast, your gas was likely imported from Canada. If so, just wait for any new tariffs imposed on it.