• rigatti@lemmy.world
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        14 days ago

        Food prices are a component of CPI. Food inflation is also around 2%, which is like the ideal inflation rate: https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/food-inflation-in-the-united-states/

        Note that it was out of control a couple years ago, which is why prices went way up. I haven’t looked at the statistics, but what I have heard is that wage growth, generally, has caught up to inflation, which includes food prices. This is still a feels over reals situation. People feel that their food is too expensive, and Republicans are way better at addressing the feels. One of my favorite signs around the neighborhood said “TRUMP LOW PRICES || KAMALA HIGH PRICES”. Like, yeah, that definitely makes sense. Well explained.

    • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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      14 days ago

      That’s because low inflation does not mean prices come back down, which is what people expect. So technically inflation is not out of control. But prices are still high. That’s what people mean.

          • rigatti@lemmy.world
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            14 days ago

            It’s not pedantic. People just literally don’t understand what inflation means. Wage growth, apparently, has caught up to inflation, so it’s really just that people haven’t adjusted their mindset to the higher prices now. And they’re angry about it.

            • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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              14 days ago

              It’s not pedantic. People just literally don’t understand what inflation means

              In almost everything there is the scientific or technical definition of the term, and then there is common parlance. People will never know the technical terms, just accept that because all you’re accomplishing is being pedantic.

              • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                14 days ago

                How basic of terms should we give up on? Inflation is not a difficult concept. I would barely call it a technical term.

                • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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                  14 days ago

                  Let me know if you stop people from using the word theory incorrectly. That’s only been going on for centuries, surely we’ll educate everyone any day!

                  • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                    14 days ago

                    You jest, but seriously, inflation is not that hard to understand. You apparently have a very low threshold for calling something pedantic.

            • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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              13 days ago

              Weird. It’s almost like colloquiality is a thing. Words weren’t written down thousands of years ago to remain unchanged through usage. Or you could choose to be an inflexible pedant in a changing world…?

              • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                12 days ago

                I assumed I could have a discussion on Lemmy about the very clear difference between two words without getting attacked for it, but I guess not.

                I also don’t agree that the word inflation has colloquially changed meaning, I think people just are not aware that inflation is normal now. They look at the current prices due to the period of previous inflation and are angry about it.

                • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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                  11 days ago

                  You’re entitled to your opinion. But just repeating “inflation means something different” in various ways and doubling down on being offended that others don’t agree with you is not “discussion”. Wish you the best, we need you…

                  • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                    11 days ago

                    I’m more surprised at how quickly the Lemmings got emotional about this than I am offended. Also that’s kind of reductive to say I’m just repeating and doubling down. I’m trying to explain myself. I guess I should just acquiesce to the Lemmy masses or not comment at all, because that’s how we foster a community.

                    Thanks for the somewhat reasonable comment, I guess.

    • AlDente
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      13 days ago

      People are not goldfish with minds that reset every year. Per your own link, accumulative inflation is up 21.8% since 2020.

        • AlDente
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          13 days ago

          No. If you would look at the graph in the link you posted, you would see that 2020 is right before the huge spike in inflation. This sustained spike explains the current outrage over increased prices.

          • rigatti@lemmy.world
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            13 days ago

            There was a two year spike. If you look at the graph in the link I posted, you would see that prices have been mostly going up as normal for almost two years now. When are people going to adjust to their mindset to the current prices?

            • AlDente
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              13 days ago

              To make people happy, I think it would take a return to a running average of 2%. This requires a temporary drop below 2%, perhaps even to 0 or negative. Otherwise, you’re just telling them to suck it up and embrace the new normal.

              • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                13 days ago

                I’m not an economist, but from what I’ve heard in the past, 2% is basically ideal. Price deflation or inflation that’s too low can indicate problems with the economy. Maybe this situation is different since we had really high inflation a couple years ago. But either way, I think it’s unlikely that prices will drop. Kamala needed to promise super low taxes on the working class or something to make up for it.

    • Wes4Humanity@lemm.ee
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      13 days ago

      Maybe it’s back down to “normal” inflation rates… But Kamala should have come out swinging to raise minimum wage to $25/hr, tie it to inflation, and mandating everyone get a 40% raise to counter the 40% inflation we’ve had since the last time minimum wage was raised. Something along those lines… As one thing in a long list of things she should have done… Sure it might have cost her the (checks notes) zero votes she was able to scrape off Trump’s boots, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

      • rigatti@lemmy.world
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        13 days ago

        I agree! Her messaging was terrible, and she didn’t know how to counter the “TRUMP LOW PRICES // KAMALA HIGH PRICES” ads.

    • kreskin@lemmy.world
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      13 days ago

      so tired of hearing that

      I’m tired of centrist claiming the econony is great and anyone claiming its not are stupid. grocery prices rose 28% in 5 years: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/price-of-food

      Mcdonalds prices are up 40% in the same period. https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/29/mcdonalds-cost-increases.html And they doubled over the last decade.

      Wages growth did not keep up with the last decade, or the last 4 years. People are constantly losing ground and Biden/Harris’s reply was that “they dont understand”, because the “stock market was at an all time high.”

      Tone deaf and privelaged, and even after losing Biden/Harris and their allies still dont get it and wont self examine.

      • rigatti@lemmy.world
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        13 days ago

        I’ve never claimed to be a centrist. Very far from it. Grocery prices went up, yes. Grocery prices are now going up at a normal rate. That’s all I’m saying here and people are losing their minds.

    • TreeGhost@lemm.ee
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      14 days ago

      Its not out of control now, but that doesn’t cancel out previous high inflation rates on things. If people wages haven’t kept up then they may not be able.to still afford the standard of living they had a few years ago.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      12 days ago

      You do realize that inflation is cumulative right?

      It’s out of control because some of the stuff we need on a daily basis still costs double what it used to without any real increase in wages for half of America.

        • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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          12 days ago

          Okay either you’re not getting it or you’re ignoring it on purpose. If wages in 2023 met inflation, there’s still 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2008, 2009, etc where they didn’t.

          Unless wages beat inflation that’s not getting better. And wages beating inflation years later is literally too little too late. Because we finance so much stuff this means years of delayed cars, houses, remodels, tax income (for cities), etc.

          That’s not fun on its own, but then to find out companies leveraged the supply crises to keep raising prices long after it was over and caused more inflation by their greed is infuriating. Especially to then hear Democrats try to take a fucking victory lap on it.

          Democrats were told all of this back in early spring and ignored it. And now Democrats have lost the election in large part because they never stopped trying to take a victory lap. The country told you it’s still hurting and you’re still here trying to patch up family finances with top line statistics that don’t mean shit.

          • rigatti@lemmy.world
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            12 days ago

            Except that wage growth, from what I’m seeing, has kept up with inflation. If you find me numbers to say otherwise, I’ll believe you. Until then you’re just stating how you and others feel. My point this whole time is that the feeling doesn’t match up with the numbers.

            I get that companies have been price gouging, I get that Democrats needed to push for more policies that make people feel better economically, or at least say dumb lies that make people feel better like Trump does.

            • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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              12 days ago

              You’re looking at the median. Look at the mode which still sits somewhere around 35-40 and say that again with a straight face.

              • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                12 days ago

                Mode of what? 35-40 what? What source? Why are you so angry? Also why is the mode more important than the median?

                • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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                  12 days ago

                  And we’re done here. It’s obvious you’re just trolling and haven’t actually gotten into the data.

                  • rigatti@lemmy.world
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                    12 days ago

                    I’m seriously not trolling. I took a cursory look at data from a few sources. I do enjoy that you won’t answer basic questions though.