Examples of current inflation - add yours!

[Lakedog]

But grocery prices keep going up, as recent as my last visit a few days ago.

I continue to see this as well. When prices are raised, it's typically by 25% or more so doesn't seem like inflation is slowing.

 

[Fermion]

Was at KFC today, saw on the sign they were touting a 12 pc chicken tenders meal for $41.99

I thought it was a misprint, but nope.

This stuff is real out there.

 

[Teacher Terry]

So I have air filters for my air return in my condo. I need to change it every 2 months so I buy 6 at a time. Last year they were 16 each and now are 22. My heating/cooler is a boiler system for the whole building and I have my own blower. My son shopped around online but couldn’t find them cheaper.

 

[rodi]

This was a shocker for us... Went to buy a five gallon bucket of paint. High quality exterior paint for a fence project. Home Depot wanted $250 for 5 gallons. DH decided to check Sherman Williams because he thought it might be cheaper and he likes their paint better. $137 for 2 gallons. And that was on sale!!!

I can't believe paint is so expensive.

 

[aja8888]

This was a shocker for us... Went to buy a five gallon bucket of paint. High quality exterior paint for a fence project. Home Depot wanted $250 for 5 gallons. DH decided to check Sherman Williams because he thought it might be cheaper and he likes their paint better. $137 for 2 gallons. And that was on sale!!!

I can't believe paint is so expensive.

Paints contain chemicals that are derivatives of oil. Guess what!


Binder (resin) – this holds the pigment particles together and provides the adhesion. In latex paints the binder is generally classified as either 100% acrylic or vinyl acrylic (aka PVA or poly vinyl acetate)

Liquid – this is the carrier for the pigments and binder. Water in the case of latex paint, generally mineral spirits in an oil based paint.

There are also pigments and other additives for color, etc.

 

[GenXguy]

Had to pick up a few grocery items at Walmart. Sure enough, more price increases.

Sara Lee white whole grain up to $2.77 - it has been about $2.50, and was $2 back in 2020. About a 40% increase in less than 2 years.

Great Value crackers up to $1.12. These has been 98 cents, and 82 cents before that, and 76 cents in 2020. Over 47% increase in less than 2 years.

I'm not sure how a lot of people can afford all these price hikes - certainly a lot more than the official inflation figures.

 

[jollystomper]

At Costco - 2 pack of Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat Bread- $4.19 pre-pandemic, $4.29 through earlier this year, now $4.99.

 

[tmm99]

This was a shocker for us... Went to buy a five gallon bucket of paint. High quality exterior paint for a fence project. Home Depot wanted $250 for 5 gallons. DH decided to check Sherman Williams because he thought it might be cheaper and he likes their paint better. $137 for 2 gallons. And that was on sale!!!

I can't believe paint is so expensive.

Why is paint so expensive now??

Someone I was talking to the other day said he started his own painting business (painting houses) and he said the paint prices have gone up about 35% since he started his business back in January. That sounds insane. He said his fee has gone up that much because of it...

 

[JoeWras]

There's a whole lot going on with paint. Paint inflation started about 2 decades ago with the increasing VOC regulations. I watched paint go from a typical $15, to $25 quickly (during zero inflation time), and drifting up from there, until this recent shock.

Paint is now a high tech material. We've come a long way from linseed oil mixed with some ground up clay, lead or berries. Now it is a carefully engineered material that is essentially quick curing plastic.

As someone mentioned above, this highly engineered material has many components distilled from petroleum. We had the whole "resin shortage" after the Texas cold wave. Add base oil prices to it and it gets worse.

But there's more. The housing reno fad of the pandemic, along with flippers everywhere, increase demand. Flippers paint everything. I swear they'll even paint your dog.

 

[Koolau]

Took DW to Dead Lobster for our anniversary. Last year - it was about $40, this year about $50. YMMV

 

[aja8888]

Took DW to Dead Lobster for our anniversary. Last year - it was about $40, this year about $50. YMMV

We buy live ones for less than that. Then drop them in boiling water....quick kill and in a few minutes.....Lobster!

 

[Koolau]

We buy live ones for less than that. Then drop them in boiling water....quick kill and in a few minutes.....Lobster!

Full disclosure - we did not have any lobster products (dead or otherwise.)

 

[Fermion]

We buy live ones for less than that. Then drop them in boiling water....quick kill and in a few minutes.....Lobster!

I don't think those cheesy biscuits would be very good boiled in water...

 

[John Galt III]

Fish inflation. My secret frozen fish source has bumped up the price on its 5 pound bag of fresh caught Whiting to $4.60 a pound (up from $3.25 a pound). The 2 pound bags are still priced at $3.50 per pound. I cleaned them out, of the 2 pound bags. Got the last two. No doubt the 2 pound bags will be more than $4.60 a pound in the future. Sigh.... it was good while it lasted. Whiting is quite tasty when baked in an open dish, with some olive oil and seasonings, and lemon.

 

[djsander]

Went with a neighbor for coffee at McDs. I asked for a senior coffee and they said they don’t do that there anymore. I asked the price of a small coffee and it was $1.10+ tax. They told me others might still have them. Now I hadn’t been in one for about a year, but the one I was in last time the senior coffee was 59 cents. Then looked for the sausage biscuit. They used to be a dollar now it was $1.95. Yikes! We decided we will try somewhere else on our next outing. I’m guessing they all will be like that.

 

[Koolau]

Went with a neighbor for coffee at McDs. I asked for a senior coffee and they said they don’t do that there anymore. I asked the price of a small coffee and it was $1.10+ tax. They told me others might still have them. Now I hadn’t been in one for about a year, but the one I was in last time the senior coffee was 59 cents. Then looked for the sausage biscuit. They used to be a dollar now it was $1.95. Yikes! We decided we will try somewhere else on our next outing. I’m guessing they all will be like that.

That's a pretty outrageous rate of inflation. These days, I only go to fast food places when they have sales (like two sammiches for one - or similar discount.) I won't pay full price. YMMV

 

[aja8888]

Burger king still has the $0.54 senior coffee here (Houston area). Plus, they have coupons galore for all kinds of twofers.

 

[djsander]

Burger king still has the $0.54 senior coffee here (Houston area). Plus, they have coupons galore for all kinds of twofers.

We are going to work our way up the road trying various places. I was surprised by the lack of senior coffee as it was pretty much every place in the past. Coffee in bulk is relatively cheap and you get the person to spend on something else. Wouldn’t normally do fast food anymore, but it’s easy to have coffee and sit and talk. The old man coffee meeting which appears I’ve finally made it to!

 

[Dash man]

Senior cut at Supercuts went from $18 to $19

 

[Koolau]

Senior cut at Supercuts went from $18 to $19

Wow, last time I went, it was $12. It's been a while so YMMV.

 

[Badger]

Went with a neighbor for coffee at McDs. I asked for a senior coffee and they said they don’t do that there anymore. I asked the price of a small coffee and it was $1.10+ tax. They told me others might still have them. Now I hadn’t been in one for about a year, but the one I was in last time the senior coffee was 59 cents. Then looked for the sausage biscuit. They used to be a dollar now it was $1.95. Yikes! We decided we will try somewhere else on our next outing. I’m guessing they all will be like that.

I rarely go to McD but when on the road I would stop in the morning for a dollar sausage biscuit or two and (senior) coffee. If that is what they are doing now then I may look for an alternative.
Since they raised the price on the coffee do they still give refills?

Cheers!

 

[ivinsfan]

I rarely go to McD but when on the road I would stop in the morning for a dollar sausage biscuit or two and (senior) coffee. If that is what they are doing now then I may look for an alternative.
Since they raised the price on the coffee do they still give refills?

Cheers!

They are still the cheapest you can find anywhere...even as a senior myself fail to see why my coffee should be cheaper !

 

[Koolau]

They are still the cheapest you can find anywhere...even as a senior myself fail to see why my coffee should be cheaper !

Senior discounts were a marketing ploy. It's obvious that some stores have decided not to continue offering them. They may or may not lose some business because of it. (I won't pay $1 for McD's coffee.) It's not about you being able (or unable) to afford a cup of coffee. And it's not "wrong" to offer OR accept a discount based on being a senior (or child, etc.). It's about the STORE and their desire to improve their bottom line. Some stores are now deciding they no longer need to offer discounts to improve the bottom line. YMMV

 

[Chuckanut]

Went with a neighbor for coffee at McDs. I asked for a senior coffee and they said they don’t do that there anymore. I asked the price of a small coffee and it was $1.10+ tax. They told me others might still have them. Now I hadn’t been in one for about a year, but the one I was in last time the senior coffee was 59 cents. Then looked for the sausage biscuit. They used to be a dollar now it was $1.95. Yikes! We decided we will try somewhere else on our next outing. I’m guessing they all will be like that.

I strongly suggest you check out breakfast and traditional cheap places like Denny's. McDs is till cheaper, though one does not get table service. I fight back by gong to a good breakfast place and ordering a complete ample breakfast. Before taking a bite I immediately save 1/2 of it for the hotel fridge. That will be dinner. At dinner time, all I need to add is a glass of wine from the bottle I bring with me, and maybe a cookie for dessert.

I don't do drive throughs unless I have to do so. I absolutely hate it when they close the dining room and don't even let drive through customers use the restroom. But, if the dining room is open, McDs is a good stop to rest, stretch one's legs, and have a bite to eat. ON long drives 300+ miles a day, I do not eat big meals. Rather, I start with a coffee and McMuffin from McDs, drive about 1.5-3 hours. Stop.Walk about. Use the restroom and get another coffee and maybe a McSausage something. I find that using this method, I can keep a pretty good pace without getting fatigued for up to 10 hours. Then I collapse.

Note: This method only works on main highways. Back water country roads? You're often on your own for food and facilities.

 

[ownyourfuture]

Ordered a new speed queen washer & dryer mid June.
The first time I've ever had to purchase either. They were installed on July 5th. I'm too embarrassed to say how much.