[Milsurplus] OT: Price Inflation was: FS: RAT-1

[arc5 at ix.netcom.com]

In fact, the whole idea of calculating inflated prices
is a "red herring," designed to keep us from looking
at the real problem.   What matters is not price, 
but purchasing power per hour of work.

If you really want to be depressed,
create a basket of household commodities
and throw-in a couple of major items, like
say a refrigerator and a washing machine,
that the aveage family would need and use.
Take the median wage from, say, 1964 in your field
and calculate how many hours you would have to work
to pay for it in 1964.
Now take your pay today and calculate how many 
hours you'd need to work to pay for it today.
It's an eye-opener.

73 Dave S.