Still think there isn't any inflation?

[cornermouse]

Went to the store to pick up a brand of volumizing shampoo. At first glance they didn't appear to have it any more. Looking a little longer, I realized that they did have volumizing shampoo. They had changed the bottle shape, color, fragrance, and size (bigger bottle) and doubled the price. Picking up the bottle, I noticed that the new bottle contains .5 ounces less shampoo than the old bottle that I was looking for.

Hmm... Bigger bottle, doubled price, less shampoo. Sounds like inflation on steroids to me.

[annabanana]

1. They really are working overtime

to make it look like "things are just fine, thank-you". Cans of coffee that were 16 oz are down to 11. You can still get a pound of bacon, but the 12oz packages are beginning to show up.

The incredible shrinking groceries.

Scarlett's drapery dress.

[cornermouse]

3. Yep.

[unblock]

2. nonsense! there's no inflation here!

the new and improved volumizing shampoo is clearly a better product than your old shampoo. so, much of the price increase is due, not to inflation, but to "hedonics" -- the improvement in product.

moreover, you can easily avoid the price increase but substituting a competing product -- say, a non-name volumizing shapoo or a non-"volumizing" shampoo, or just plain soap. official economists have no idea why you don't just use ivory soap to wash your hair.

:sarcasm:

[cornermouse]

4. Ivory isn't cheap either.

Gotta go generic in everything.

[charlie]

5. My favorite generic soda

went from $.99 a single sixpack to $5-for-4 two weeks ago. 25% increase. Bugger.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. The smaller packaging scam is out in force once again.

I see it in many, many things. What interest me is how suddenly so many brands go to smaller more expensive sizes at the same time.

[B Calm]

7. Look at the price of gas, heating oil, etc etc etc...

[Xipe Totec]

8. And what about the chocolate rations?

and the Victory gin?

Somebody forgot to tell the Bushistas that Orwell's 1984 is a novel, not a manual for governance.

[ProfessorGAC]

9. Be Careful Though

There are times when the formulas change just enough that you actually need to use a little less per shampooing. (This is especially true in things like laundry or dish detergents.) If you use the same amount as before, you're not getting any better cleaning or volumizing, you're just wasting money.

So, you might want to consider using a little less per use and see if it still works ok. Then, at least you'll be back to break even.

The Professor

[annabanana]

10. a little less coffee?

a little less canned veggies?
a little less dog food?

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Are You Willfully Misinterpreting Me?

I was trying to help the OP save money! Sheesh!

Manufacturers of this type of product often reformulate to have lower costs, lower packaging cost, lower transportation costs, etc. But, they don't tell you the shampoo now has 14% active ingredients, instead of 12%. In fact, they may (at least those with marginal ethics) hope you continue to use the same amount.

Well, using extra doesn't make your hair cleaner. It's just wasting money.

So, perhaps that person can use a little less and at least break even.

Boy, people are so anti-everything business around here, that they can't even recognize someone trying to help.
The Professor

[Skittles]

11. there are some products I have stopped buying

not because I can't afford them (now), but because the deception just sickens me

[Deja Q]

12. Prices on many items at my grocer's jumped a tad, then they redecorated...

Probably to look more like the posh store 2 miles away.

Of course, prices jumped after that point.

I thought stores were supposed to take some hits along the way; not pass everything imaginable to the customers. I don't mind profits, but if they're not going to pay for their own, why bother? $2.69 for 8.5oz of Triscuits is silly when I can go to 4 other stores; get it for $2.04~$2.29. Even if it was "on sale" (TPR) for only $2.39. :eyes:

[fasttense]

13. Just wait, it will get worse what with the drought

and the wheat crop failure. I guess they will have to skip bread when the government collects it's grocery bag to determine inflation or they could substitute cake. Let them eat cake.