[quote=deadzone][quote=FlyerInHi]The cpi just came out. Inflation is almost nil.
Pay raises will go a long way in improving the economy and getting rid of debts.[/quote]

Who is getting pay raises? Not me or FLU. At best we may get a raise adjusted to CPI. But if government is claiming no inflation, no pay raise for most working stiffs.

Oh and by the way, take a look outside to the real world. No inflation my ass. Cost of most everything I spend money on has been going up dramatically in the last couple of years.[/quote]

I think other industries (service industry that is more based on commissions and bonuses) are doing much better than typical engineering, because that seems to be the norm in most economies. Medical is probably also doing much better too, I’m guess due to obamacare. I haven’t seen UCSD so busy ever before.

As far as engineering, I don’t think comps have gone down. They just haven’t gone significantly up. That or I’m hitting the magical ceiling…In Jan, I got a 3.4% salary raise, which was about average in recent times for me. There was a 17% RSU grant that vests over 4 years(which is about 4.4% per year), 6% cash bonus, which is better than nothing. (I guess with the rising stock price, they’d rather hand out cash instead of stock grants). Anyway, I didn’t really notice it as is the case every year, because after taxes on a W2, it ends up being noise. The bonus ends up being 1/2 withheld, for instance.

That said, folks in the stock market did well last year. This year, it’s probably ok for most people..Except me, which even with my bonehead moves, I’m doing about 5% YTD (which sucks compared to what most people are probably getting). Still 5% is better than 1%CD’s lol..

Lesson I’ve learned and emphasize repeatedly is counting on a W2 alone stinks.