AMEN!! The “Basket of Goods” that made up the CPI 15 years ago had many more items in it than it does now. Unemployment figures only calculate who’s getting a UI check, not actual people without jobs. The checks stop after 6 months in most states. The cost of a barrel of oil has almost doubled in 2 years. These are just a few examples of things that dont seem to show up in any govt reports.
I learned a long time ago, when I performed statistical analytics, that the first thing one should do when looking at statistical data is to consider the source and the second thing is to analyze the methodology, definitions and basic framework.
Just ask yourself,”How much did medical care, a car, a house, and education cost 10 years ago?” This is far more accurate and meaningful than all the garp the govt sticks out there and expects us to accept as facts.