cost of living...

It isn't so great that retirees won't get a cost of living adjustment this year - the second year in a row. You can read a bad news discussion here.  Now, with 48 million on food stamps and energy prices through the roof (also record profits again for the oil companies), it isn't any wonder that A&P bit the dust.

The real issue is how the cost of living index is figured...you see it "excludes food and fuel".  Our home heating oil is up to about $3.10 a gallon now and we go through 500 gallons in a winter - we also keep the house at 60 degrees and shut off rooms.  Gas is $3.40/gallon - again pretty high but we don't joyride. High school is over and done with so tooling around in the family car is not a biggie. Food is the killer.  We both cook and enjoy eating good things - health conscious foods and our local Waldbaum's helped us along with an across the store 10% price increase October 1.  That is a lot and it goes to the same thing happening a year ago and of course the upped prices that normally occur in the spring before the tourists come out or the second homes are occupied.

The point is, and of course this is anecdotal and your experiences may vary. I get that. But for the government to claim there is no inflation is just plain stupid and to stand around wringing its hand while economists express disbelief is ... well.. it is what it is.