Tag Archives: inflation

What’s the Big Deal about the Chained CPI and How Would It Affect Social Security Benefits?

I. What is the Chained CPI and how does it differ from other CPI measures? First, there are numerous consumer price index measures. Among the most notable are: CPI-U (Consumer Price Index – Urban) – measures prices for consumers in … Continue reading

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The Economist: Where To Be Born

Well, I’ve been to many of the countries listed in the top 10 countries listed below but I still prefer the good ol’ USA, despite our many problems. The Economist ranks countries on 11 indicators (GDP, inflation, GDP growth, cost … Continue reading

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Debunking the ‘Middle Class is Not Hurting’ Deniers

It’s incredible, given the evidence below, that the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank, argues there has been “considerable improvement in material well-being for both the middle class and the poor … over the past three decades.” Fortunately, this is easily … Continue reading

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Why Individuals Over Age 55 Need to Worry about Romney/Ryan Medicare Reform

Romney and Ryan claim that individuals over 55 years of age do not need to worry about any changes in Medicare because they would be exempt from Medicare reforms. Romney/Ryan Ignore Effects of Cherry-Picking Healthy Beneficiaries Paul N. Van de … Continue reading

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Were Gas Prices in the Good Ol’ Days as Good as We Believe?

Some of us can remember when we paid 25 cents or less for a gallon of gas. But 25 cents in 1958 is the equivalent of $1.97 in 2012 dollars, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator. Don’t … Continue reading

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China Import and Export Facts Go Against Conventional Wisdom

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has examined The U.S. Content of “Made in China.” The key question of the study was “what fraction of U.S. consumer spending goes for Chinese goods and what part of that fraction reflects … Continue reading

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