Inflation running wild - Auto-Trend Repairs and Service Information Forums

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Inflation running wild

Stan_147 · Veteran User

You forgot the hidden inflation, instead of a price increase, there has been a volume decrease. Half gallon of ice cream is now 1.5 quarts, like the 56oz bottles that used to be 64oz. A 13oz cereal box is now 10.8oz. The price remains the same, you are just getting less for your money.

Check the tags, youll see what I mean.

Shawnee_B · FAR BEYOND DRIVEN

Stan_147 wrote:
You forgot the hidden inflation, instead of a price increase, there has been a volume decrease. Half gallon of ice cream is now 1.5 quarts, like the 56oz bottles that used to be 64oz. A 13oz cereal box is now 10.8oz. The price remains the same, you are just getting less for your money.

Check the tags, youll see what I mean.

Obama started that in 2008 when he said no COLA increases for 3 years because there "is no inflation" Yeah right. So 16 oz coffee is now 13oz, 16 oz bacon is now 13oz but same price. Backdoored again.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

I have noticed that my once 20oz bottles of Coke are now much smaller and the same price.

I also understand that Coke is currently being boycotted but I'm going to have a hard time with that. It's become such a circus with businesses injecting themselves into politics that it's not even funny. Used to be that a business wanted to keep ALL it's customers happy, but now days they opperate under the creed of "we can't please everyone" when all they have to do is keep making their product or providing whatever service and keep their mouths shut. Also used to be business worked for your business, but now days it's more of a take or leave it attitude because the market is cornered anyway.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

In yet another sign that inflation may be creeping up on us,

https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/ketchup-packets-being-sold-on-ebay

Apparently there is a demand and people are paying cold hard cash for condiment packets on eBay.

This reminds me of the time back in the early 1990's when I was in England and Scotland... there whenever you want a packet of ketchup it cost .5 pence, a nickel in US money but at the time with exhange rates a nickel in the UK was worth a dime USD.

So, anyone who has been packing away all them condiment packets from your favorite fast food joint, now is your time to cash in! We all know someone who hordes these kinds of things! LOL

Makes you wonder though, when does a packet of ketchup expire? There are usually no expiration dates on these kinds of things. Does ketchup stay longer than, say, Taco Bell sauce or Arby's sauce?

-- Edited by SELLC on Thursday 8th of April 2021 04:42:59 AM

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

And yet another example, my Mom just paid over $300 for ten sheets of pressboard. That is a 300% increase!

As someone looking to do some revovations just before COVID I have to wonder how much longer these price increases can maintain? Are they here to stay? Or will it come back down?

Runaway inflation usually requires a market correction to fix, but that brings other problems worse than what needs to be fixed. lol

I'm in a holding pattern, seems a lot of automakers are too with the chip shortages... it might come to pass it wasn't really a shortage, rather a lack of budget for the outragous price increases! The materials needed to make catalytic converters is thru the roof to the order of insane values! (Pt)= $1,096.94 Troy Ouce (Pd)= $2,659.94 Troy Ounce (Rh)= $25,850 Troy Ounce these are the precious metals found in catalytic converters - Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium...

It's not hard to see, at least from a converter production standpoint - how this could have auto makers going into holding patterns. Makes you wonder if some of these metals aren't being made more valuable due to their use in the wild Space exploration. Maybe it's Chy-NA... or we could even blame it on Rona shutdowns.

Sounds like the 600 pound Twinkie in the room nobody wants to talk about.

Shawnee_B · FAR BEYOND DRIVEN

Gotta have the coke. I get sams club coke at wallys for .68 cokecola is 1.90

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

You don't find the taste of Sam's Coke to be near undrinkable?

Shawnee_B · FAR BEYOND DRIVEN

Taste about the same to me I guess. I drink very little soda anyway.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Inflation has officially arrived!

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/warren-buffett-we-are-seeing-substantial-inflation-and-are-raising-prices-220539307.html

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

We were paying around $01:48 per liter for 9ctane fuel about a month ago, now it's back up to $01:68....

I'm not saying that it's a result of inflation, but rather the Covid-scam is coming to a close maybe...

Everything down in Oz went up around 20-30% when Covid first appeared except for fuel. And you couldn't buy any toilet paper anywhere for about a month lol !

All that said, the AUD to USD exchange rate is the best its been for years, hovering into the low 70-cents USD for one Aussie dollar. ( It was as low as 59-cents about 12-months ago ).

* The only way the US-of-A gov't is going to get back some of the "Covid relief funding" it gave you is to tax your sorry asses some more folks !

-- Edited by Rastus on Monday 3rd of May 2021 08:02:54 AM

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Gas prices really don't phase me, perhaps because I do very little driving outside of pleasure. I guess it does bother me when it starts getting close to $4 a gallon because then I know any trip I take is going to cost me more. LOL, one thing about more expensive gas is that it keeps people off the road, and more road = more fun! LOL

But there are definite signs of inflation and it's no longer limited to such things as lumber or gasoline. It has spread to everything pretty much! Some companies get sneaky by shrinking the volume in order to maintin a similar price, as others have said in here but the bottom line is the cost of items today is more than what they were a short time ago and that is pretty much across the board.

I don't know if the toilet paper shortage was some kind of sick joke but we have never seen that before, at least I hadn't... but sure as $hit, I went to buy some in the early stages of COVID and the entire isle was empty. Even took a photo!

Here is something else that is happening here in Michigan, at least in my area

This photo above was taken a few days ago and represents what is happening to a LOT of fast food resturants in my area from Taco Bell, Arby's, Wendy's and just about everywhere else!

Some are blaming COVID but others are saying they can't find people to work due to the current unemployment benefits that make it more lucrative to collect unemployment than to work.

Regarless, if Taco Bell is reducing their hours to only five hours per day on the weekends then something is seriously wrong! And it's not only Taco Bell, it's just about all of them!

You can't tell me that over a YEAR of business disruption isn't going to catch up with us.

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

You never know SELLC, people may be more afraid of catching something ( Covid ) from being at work at one of these places.

Collecting gov't benefits is a great safety-net to have, but I doubt folks want to make a career out-of-it.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

I don't work at or own any of these places so I'm only repeating what I'm hearing at the street level as a customer from locals.

I am sure in one way or another it has to do with COVID, but this rolling infection is very odd because it's been over a year now.

Media is saying it's real bad in India right now, but that makes no sense! The original outbreak was in China so logistically it seems like they would have seen it much sooner than the US.

Something is not right... we are not being told something... something is being left out and for sure this virus is being used to test the waters... for what? Again, they aren't saying!

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

SELLC wrote:
1. I am sure in one way or another it has to do with COVID, but this rolling infection is very odd because it's been over a year now.
2. Media is saying it's real bad in India right now, but that makes no sense! The original outbreak was in China so logistically it seems like they would have seen it much sooner than the US.
3. Something is not right... we are not being told something... something is being left out and for sure this virus is being used to test the waters... for what? Again, they aren't saying!

Yo,

R1. Agreed. Some people are making $$$ out-of-all this mess don't forget. IMO I'm starting to think that they've sprinkled a little-of-it here & there in the Western World to validate its existence, & meanwhile, they're letting places like Africa & India get a whopping dose for the means of population control...Remember that Bill Gates has been funding population control devices for 3rd-world countries for a long time, & the SOB is also the one funding vaccines, so a lot doesn't add-up here...

(Nb. And even the now passed away Royal Prince Philip is quoted in a 1988 news interview as stating qt " If there is such a thing as reincarnation, I hope to come back as a deadly virus to stem the world over-population" ( or very similar ). Ironic that he passes away in the midst of a crisis that appears to be doing just that...).

R2. One theory I read has it that it( Covid ) was initially initiated by US-of-A financial interests, to mess-up China's domination of the world economy, & hence create an enemy for the Military Industrial Complex, whilst regaining economic strength for the elite in the worlds markets. Don't forget that even Sleepy-Joe has only just announced a further increase in DoD funding from Mr.Trumpdts 752-Billion dollars per year by another 13-Billion dollars...And just 3% of this budget would feed all the starving people in our little world...

R3. "They" are keeping us busy with false information & stress, plus "false-flag-"whilst making BIG BUX for the elite & the selected politicians.

-- Edited by Rastus on Tuesday 4th of May 2021 09:58:53 PM

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Speaking of Bill Gates, I'm sure we have all heard that he is following in the footsteps of Bezos and getting a divorce.

Makes you wonder, could there be more trouble there? Something we don't know about yet? A dark side to Bill Gates?

Nobody can seem to put their finger on where the COVID come from, except to say that it turned up in China first! And you know the old saying "Whoever smelt it, dealt it!"

If indeed inflation works to raise everyone like high tide at the shipyard then perhaps it won't be too bad. In such cases it could make paying off old debt easier since it was taken on before inflation hit.

One thing is for sure, it's creeping up!

Stan_147 · Veteran User

Gas has jumped $0.25/gal in the last 7 days in my area. Not so hidden anymore.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Gas prices increasing should bode well for my recently aquired XOM stock! lol

Trying to keep a positive mind, my gut tells me we are in for some turbulence in the near future!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Reports are coming in from all over the country that new car automobile dealerships are seeing $5,000 - $10,000 above sticker on new cars with a take it or leave it attitude because the lots are all empty. This is happening with all brands of vehicles too, it's also inflating the cost of used cars as well!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/car-sellers-suddenly-earning-profit-143034379.html

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

My dealer's lot is about 1/2-2/3 full which is quite a change because we usually have about a hundred cars in an offsite overflow lot at any given time.

Strange times

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

I'll say!

Recently I had a customer who needed brakes on an old Ford Fusion with a bazillion miles (read that as over 200k lol) and the cost for ONE FRONT ROTOR from the local parts store was $90!

I know for a fact they were half that two years ago because I am the one who did them!

So for the first time in a very long time we did a pad slap just because of sticker shock and we really did feel bad.

I hate having to give customers the inflation spewl every time I see them but they have been customers for many years and know what they paid before for similar work. I might even have to raise my labor rate to offset some of the prices I have been seeing, such as a tube of grease to lube bearings and front end parts selling wholesale for $15 each! We're talking about a $3 tube of grease just a few years ago! Even the online stuff is inching up in 20-30% increments.

I have noticed shipping cost increases too on the sales side. We offer free shipping and sometimes it really cuts into the profits!

We been getting carry out three to four times a week due to the fact the cost for anything good (not noodles or salad) is about the same, or often times LESS with a coupon for carry out or fast food!

Strange times indeed!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Welcome to the shrinkflation club Chipotle!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/chipotle-customers-complaining-receiving-tiny-202754692.html

During the pandemic I did order a lot of Chipotle... it was my son who turned me on to them as he was ordering regularly and eventually one day I said what the hell just get me what you're getting. Like I said, at first it was great! Then over time the serving sizes got smaller, they started charging extra for things that used to be free and then ultimatly the quality of the chicken got so bad it was pretty much half fatty gristle by the time you finished. Order quality also decreased with stale chips or sometimes even no chips included with burrito bowls.

I haven't been going there much anymore... my last meal was litterally 1/2 fat and gristle on the chicken and where it used to look appealing everything was just sloppy and greasy looking. Shame too because at first it was great!

Stan_147 · Veteran User

I noticed my cat food bag used to be 16 lbs, now 14.2! Fuckers!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

That's right Stan, you were the first one in this thread to point out the emerging shrinkflation hustle.

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

Agreed...

I like my Campbell's V-8 juice, ( not the original tomato (yuck), but all the others are good ), & it used to come in a 1.5-ltr glass bottle, & then it shrank into a 1.25-ltr plastic bottle for the same price...

And now it's about to go up15-20%...The sale price used to be buy-2-for-$07:00, now it's "special price" of $04:00-each...

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

How about that, even all the way across the world Rastus is noticing the same thing!

I find that real sugar taste best in glass and high fructose corn syrup taste best in plastic... at least in terms of Coke.

Same holds true for beer... a nice cold long-neck always goes down smoother than a can... I'd imagine V8 tasted better in glass too?

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

Hi SELLC,

When the whole world has had to print-off "x"-dollars from the disturbance caused by this Covid-thingy, it means that there's now too much $$$ floating around, & that devalues what was the "real"(?) determined value of each dollar. So things will either go up in price, or price stays the same with reduced contents to compensate.

The taste of "Coca Cola" out-of-the-can ( original recipe ) tastes the same to me as it did when I was a kid...And I like it...Out of a glass bottle is fine too, but the fizz gets lost quicker due to the small outlet hole, & more swishing going-on per pour. The plastic bottle Coke does taste a little different to the others, even after pouring into a glass imo. But water & lots of other variables come into effect here, as it's made in Oz, not imported. Only Dr.Pepper is imported here, & I have that every-so-often, as its taste instantly takes me back to 1974, when I visited the States as a kid.

I actually drink "Stout" / black-beer (like Guiness) now-days if I'm having one, simply because it has a strong flavor that I agree with. And for some reason my digestion system works far healthier too the next day...

Can or bottle doesn't worry me too much, but I'd almost bet that a can gets colder in temperature than a bottle in the same fridge.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

SELLC wrote:

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/stocks-federal-reserve-stress-tests-nike-fedex-oil-gold-asia-europe

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Just paid $10 for a McDonalds Fish-O-Filet sandwich combo meal!

And get this, I wanted Taco Bell but they were closed at 8pm because they have no staff! And this is not the first time I have had this problem with Taco Bell, in fact it's a constant problem that sometimes will see the store close the entire day!

Biden is doing just a wonderful job of screwing everything up! Just pay them more he says... What a fucking retard.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Paid almost $4.20 cents for a gallon of gasoline today filling up the Vette!

We're well on our way to $5.00 gas!

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

Good thing we didn't buid the Keystone XL pipeline and give Canadians the ability to ship their oil overseas to higher bidders, otherwise you might already be paying $7/gal.

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

PowerStroker wrote:
Good thing we didn't buid the Keystone XL pipeline and give Canadians the ability to ship their oil overseas to higher bidders, otherwise you might already be paying $7/gal.

This is close to what I'm paying now....

I put Caltex 98 in the bike at $01:71 cents per liter...And if it was a BP pump, you could add at least another $00:10 cents on that price...

Nb. Interestingly, Caltex ( trade-name at least ), haven't been paying their taxes over here ( remember that Caltex pyramids into Chevron ), & by 2022, all the gas stations will be renamed AMPOL.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

PowerStroker wrote:
Good thing we didn't buid the Keystone XL pipeline and give Canadians the ability to ship their oil overseas to higher bidders, otherwise you might already be paying $7/gal.

Where do you guys come up with this BS? Nobody is going to believe you dumbasses, hell you can't even distinguish the difference between a man and a woman! How the fuck you guys going to speculate on the cost of gas!?

The only FACT that is undeniable is that gasoline cost have skyrocked under Democrats! Most of it because you guys did it on purpose!

You should wake up and smell what you're shoveling.

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

Gas prices were higher under Bush than they are now. And while I can't put an exact number on how much more it would cost if Canadians had the XL pipeline to help them export it, I can say with certainty that it would be even higher.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

You're suggesting that competition in the international oil markets is going to RAISE prices?

I don't think anybody in their right mind is going to buy this load of shit you're trying to sell.

Bottom line here is Democrats want electric cars, even though they are well aware the country is nowhere near the capacity to serve such a market.

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

YES, right now we are really the only bidder for that oil. If you open it up to other bidders it will only raise the price. Why do you think Canada wants that pipeline so badly? It's not to save your ass any money that's for sure.

Our desire for more electric cars is a separate issue that isn't based on economic desires so much as environmental ones.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

I'd disagree on both accounts..

If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!

The only people I see working hard to ensure I am not saving money is Democrats... FR

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Massive inflation in the used and new car markets right now!

We are talking almost 50% increases on older used cars and anywhere from $5,000 to over $10,000 markup in the new cars - if it's not a rare model! Take for example Ford dealers selling the new Bronco's for over $100,000!!!

https://www.freep.com/story/money/personal-finance/susan-tompor/2021/07/22/used-car-shortage-value-trade-in-resale/7976919002/

This would have to be the biggest inflation I have seen in terms of dollars and cents, pound for pound!

Some are saying it's because of a chip shortage, and while that may have been the case there are still pleanty of other electronics being made without issue... To me the problem is that the auto manufactures here in America did not antisipate the overall inflation industry wide - and could no longer build said vehicle anywhere close to the price they anticipated and thus it was just cheaper to not even make them! Next year I am sure we will see MASSIVE increases in new vehicle cost as the manufactures will no doubt make the adjustments needed in pricing for the 2022 model year.

It's not just the computer chips... it's everything from the raw mateirals to the precious metals they make catalytic converters out of... The copper, the plastics - the increased cost of opperation due to COVID protocols and of course the increase in gas and food prices is cutting deep-deep into their budgets! So much they are throttling down!

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

Yes...

Even Suzuki have hit the inflation-rate-skywards on the new prices of motorcycles....

Here in Oz, you can grab a brand new, 2020 Generation-2 Hayabusa for around 17-K if you look around carefully....

However, the new Generation-3, ( which btw makes less power than the predecessors ), & dated the 2022 new model Hayabusa is listed at 28-K...

It looks alright however, better than the Gen-2 imo.

Gen !!! Hatabusa.jpg

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

That is a hot bike! Never seen mufflers like that either! Pretty slick!

Still 17k is pretty good money for a bike! Wan't to say I paid three or four grand for my Katana back in the early 1990's... it was used but low miles.

Hayabusa always seems to do that, where they make the first run of their new line the fastest and somewhat de-tune them in the later versions.

Good thing for you and I were not in the market and already own our vehicles... I'd hate to be stuck buying a car in this market!

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

SELLC wrote:
1.That is a hot bike! Never seen mufflers like that either! Pretty slick!
2.Still 17k is pretty good money for a bike! Wan't to say I paid three or four grand for my Katana back in the early 1990's... it was used but low miles.
3.Hayabusa always seems to do that, where they make the first run of their new line the fastest and somewhat de-tune them in the later versions.
4.Good thing for you and I were not in the market and already own our vehicles... I'd hate to be stuck buying a car in this market!

R1. Yes, everyone was rumoring 1400cc upgrades &/or turbo-charging for the new model, which seemed to take YEARS to arrive, but none-of-this happened...It's essentially the 1340cc Gen-2 engine with subtle upgrades, & it's the new exhaust-system & its design that shaved around 5-horses in power, namely to meet the ever-tightening Euro-V emission regulations. The Gen-2 was not available for sale in Europe since 2019, as it only complied with Euro-III emission requirements. Suzuki thought *uck Euro-IV emissions, we'll design the Gen-3 to meet Euro-V rules & reg's.

No doubt that once you swap-out the exhaust for a quality 4-1 race-system, you'll find maybe even a few more than the 5-missing horses :) !

R2. 17-K for a new bike "is" good value ! 28-K for the new model sux.

R3. True... Generally that's due to ever tightening emission regulations. California has about the most stringent in the world...

R4. You're not wrong :) !

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Seems like everything is more expensive now that I am an inflation hawk! lol

My water bill, electric bill, taxes and even my plates seem just a little bit more than they were before... but who knows...

The plates on the Corvette are renewed for another year, so at least there is that!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

SELLC wrote:
Paid almost $4.20 cents for a gallon of gasoline today filling up the Vette!
We're well on our way to $5.00 gas!

Even got 3/4 of this fill up in the tank left!

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

Really shocked more people arent chiming in with inflationary tales...

As a small business who does a lot of purchasing every month I can tell you that auto parts are still on the rise!

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/car-part-prices-heading-higher

But it's not just auto parts! Everything from fast food to regular items you buy at the grocery store! It's gotten to the point where it's almost cheaper to eat out! Think the resturants figured this out and many of them have increased prices in kind.

Rastus · UNSTOPPABLE!

"Everything" you can think-of here in Oz has trickled-up in costs recently, especially fuel, where it jumped right back up to pre-Covid prices...

Interestingly, the international price for Crude Oil fell by 4%...

It cost me over $30:00 for 98 to fill up my motorcycle, for a little over 17-ltrs.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

INFLATION CHECK:

Gas + 41.8% increase

Used car and truck prices + 41.7% increase

Car and truck rental cost + 73.5 % increase

Airline fares + 19% increase

Hotel and Motel cost + 24.1 % increase

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/cpi-report-inflation-gas-prices-rising

I think it's safe to say that Joe Biden has failed, and if the Democrats manage to pass the $3.5 TRILLION dollar infrustructure package I think it's safe to say these percentages will increase to the point where most Americans are priced right out of being able to afford basic essentials as all the money will be given to big business and bureaucrats!

It's also a safe bet that travel will be out of the question for the foreseeable future! This will only put further stress on the economy because who wants to pay these over-inflated prices to vacation when Democrats are just trying to shut down the country again and mandate their masks and vaccines! It's gotten to the point where you really have to ask yourself, perhaps the Government NEEDS to be shut down for awhile! They are way off the rails, from cheating elections to outright writing themselves a check for almost $5 trillion dollars!

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

Nah, it's just time for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates is all.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

And what do you think that will do PowerStroker? You think that will help or hurt the working man?

When interest rates increase they won't be for the rich who already locked in under 2%... it will be on everyone else.

That will also tank the market since people will be moving money out of the market and into savings, bonds and other such interest bearing assets.

It's a vicious cycle and it's why I have said he has failed... because rasing interest rates and taxes will only increase cost for people in addition to all the increases we already have! Thus putting MORE pressure on Americans budgets in the form of higher credit costs in addition to more expensive food, gas, transportation and everything in-between.

That's a real great idea you have there PowerStroker! Did you and Hunter come up with that while you were having another one of your crack sessions?

-- Edited by SELLC on Friday 13th of August 2021 11:49:45 AM

PowerStroker · UNSTOPPABLE!

Just ask your boss for a raise then.

SELLC · CERTIFIED POST WHORE

My boss is an asshole.