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How The U.S. Government "Covers Up" 72% Inflation Before Your Very Eyes

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Dear Bureau of Labor Statistics: please pay careful attention to this case study of how your CPI "inflation" gauge, hedonically, seasonally-adjusted or otherwise, is completely inaccurate, and how what you record as 0% inflation is really 72%.

As Consumerist points out, for the latest example of "stealth inflation" we go to Sodastream, where as part of a redesign of its proprietary line of flavoring syrups which "cost the same" the actual bottle contents are now not only smaller but also diluted.

"How much smaller? The old version made 50 servings of flavored drink, and the new versions make only 29. Why 29? Why not 30? Such are the mysteries of the Grocery Shrink Ray."

Consumerist shows that "the new bottles are somehow taller even though they’re smaller. On the positive side, they no longer look like petite laundry detergent bottles."

Furthermore, while the number of servings is down to 2/3 of the original amount, the bottle size isn’t that much smaller. That’s because the measuring cap is now bigger, and each serving uses more syrup. "The worst part is that they just diluted it with more water so the ‘new improved’ ones LOOK like they are the same size," reader Erik complained to us. “They are 440ml instead of the old 500. EVIL! Free the bubbles! Stop this shrink ray occupation of my favorite soda!”

The old versions are still available on SodaStream’s site for now, as "Classics," but readers report that they only find the shrunken version in brick-and-mortar store.

Consumerist' conclusion: "maybe SodaStream made this change because they know that the product still looks reasonably priced next to its new competitor, the Keurig Kold. Maybe."

Actually, why SodeStream did this is irrelevant: we are confident the decision to shrink and dilute the product was the result of simple concerns about maximizing profit margins.

What is far more troubling is that for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, both the "old" and the "new" product costs the same, or $5.99, hence there is no inflation... until one does the actual math.

Presenting the "old", Dr. Pete soda mix, the one which is no longer available in bricks-and-mortar outlets, which costs $5.99 and which makes 50 servings per bottle.

 

And here is the new one: available everywhere for "the same price as the old one" but with one small difference - it makes only 29 servings per bottle.

 

The math:

  • Cost per serving "old" style: $0.1198
  • Cost per serving "new" style: $0.2066

Nominal inflation: 72.4%

Worse, there is not even an attempt to make the "new" product "hedonically" better, or for that matter different in any way - it is just smaller, and massively diluted.

And it just so happens that nobody in the Bureau of Labor Statistics noticed this oldest trick in the book, and why month after month the BLS reports core CPI that is negligible, and why said "lack of inflation" allows the Fed to continue its zero-interest rate policy for 7 consecutive years in a row.

 

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Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:18 | 6704612 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

This reminds me of Ferfal's The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse, written by a guy who lived through the collapse in Argentina. There are so many paralells to what's going on in the US, they're hard to count. Highly recommended...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Modern-Survival-Manual-Surviving/dp/9870563457

Fri, 12/18/2015 - 12:32 | 6939473 Stevious
Stevious's picture

Country Crock Margarine

Old: 1.36kg New container: 1.27kg

New formula:  New! Natural ingredients added = Water!

Old content vegetable oil: 52%

New: Vegetable oil content: 39%

Overall though the product looks about the same it's a ~33% increase.

They ought'a call it Crock of **** margarine now.

This is happening everywhere.

Shrimp: "Large shrimp" labeled now is what I call medium or small.

The worst is adding massive amounts of water (~15% to items like Chicken). 

America's consumers are stupid

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:32 | 6704676 seek
seek's picture

That's "Ferfal." For what it's worth, he's super accessible via his own website forums and a couple of the larger survival forums (I think the ones on ar15.com and ovet at survivalistsboards.com) He's got a recent posting with information from people in the Ukraine that's especially interesting.

If anyone has any doubts about these adjustments, just buy a roll of TP and compare it to the size of the TP holder in any house older than 10 years, it's quite obvious. I have TP that predates the '08 collapse of the identical brand and product line, and it's at least 1/2" wider and wrapped more densely as well.

There is substantial inflation, and it's covered up, and there's no interest being paid by banks but they're charging the average credit card holder something around 14.9 percent. Meanwhile 51% of workers in the US now make under 30K a year. The financial system is absolutely raping the common people in the US, in part due to greed and in part in a desperate attempt to save itself from collapsed caused by their greed accumulated over the past 100 years.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:38 | 6704693 TBT or not TBT
TBT or not TBT's picture

I am shocked, shocked, to find stealth inflation going on in this establishment!  

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:51 | 6704745 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

That's like the old 24 pack of sliced cheese is now 20 for for the same price. No, there is no "Now Four Slices Less!" promo on the wrapper.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:00 | 6704789 Jendrzejczyk
Jendrzejczyk's picture

Silly Wabbit, it's now healthier with fewer calories.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:27 | 6704871 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

The sad thing is that there are so many ignorant dupes out there who blame employers/manufacturers ("Arrrrgggghhh!!!! Big Oiiiiiil!!!!!" for example) for higher prices when it is completely a function of the Central Planning government and Fed.

WELCOME... to gubmint education.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:37 | 6704894 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Every ZH'er should support FerFAL's books (it is the 7.62x51 rifle his "name" is referencing, FAL being an acronym for Fusil Automatique Léger ("Light Automatic Rifle"), and the first three letters are from his first name, Fernando).

Surviving the Economic Collapse is filled with great insights and has proven prophetic.

First thing I think when I see shrinking retail packaging and lowered quality (diluted in the case of SodaStream) was FerFAL said this would happen...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:37 | 6704919 Money Counterfeiter
Money Counterfeiter's picture

Zionist are scum.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:51 | 6704956 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

Hillary will be to the US what Pres. Cristina Kirchner is to Argentina.

 

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:00 | 6705000 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

What Castro is to Cuba.  Dear Leader to North Korea.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:49 | 6705153 rccalhoun
rccalhoun's picture

steak for hamburger

then hamburger for hot dogs

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:51 | 6705161 imaginalis
imaginalis's picture

The political class finds two things to solve this. A patsy and a vice president.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:27 | 6705414 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Eat your peas, serf.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 00:17 | 6705493 tenpanhandle
tenpanhandle's picture

Even my bottled water is watered down.  But on the plus side, the salt I buy now is healthier; it contains less sodium.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:08 | 6705563 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

The dollars we use to donate are becoming worthless so donate moar - 

http://www.zerohedge.com/donate

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:37 | 6705598 Laowei Gweilo
Laowei Gweilo's picture

this is happening with almost every product you can imagine...

 

here in Canada, it's especially been pronounced with food like bacon... prices are still the same but now the packages are all 1/3rd smaller. 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 06:29 | 6705811 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

I particularly love convex bottom round containers.

 

It looks big....but it's not.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:20 | 6706115 Rubbish
Rubbish's picture

Ah the old switcheroo, if they were really good at marketing they would take 1 more ounce out and drop the price .10 cents and advertise "New Lower Price"

 

Gold bitchez.....I pick up pennies

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:20 | 6705253 MontgomeryScott
MontgomeryScott's picture

I'd rather buy pastuerized processed cheese food product over REAL cheese, ANYTIME!

I'm too uncoordinated/weak/lazy to cut slices off of a brick (and knives are DANGEROUS). BESIDES, I can let the clill'en dispense their OWN food product (or have fun in their bedroom having 'spray cheese food fights').

I really don't think GMO stuff and hot dogs are that bad. They taste good, and after all, Soylent Green is better for you (The FEDRES said so).

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:45 | 6705321 Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas's picture

Don't forget the ever vanishing pound. If you do a bunch of cooking, they always reference the pound as sort of like the standard. Well good luck finding a pound of sausage, bacon, or butter anymore. It's more like 14.5 Oz, 12 Oz. Etc. Don't even get me started on coffee.

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 05:10 | 6705761 SWRichmond
SWRichmond's picture

Bag of sugar is now 4 pounds instead of 5

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:05 | 6705902 Took Red Pill
Took Red Pill's picture

and a half gallon of ice cream is now down to 1.5 quarts

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 14:07 | 6706657 RafterManFMJ
RafterManFMJ's picture

...and my penis is now 4", when it used to be 6".

 

There's sadly no escaping this, for anyone.

Talking about Ferfal one thing he brought up and I found interesting is how farmers in isolated, rural compounds were overwhelmed at night, and their entire families tortured to reveal where they had hidden their goods/valuables.

Many farmers had dug escape tunnels after the attacks became common knowledge so they could escape their house, regroup and flee.

Oh, and the groups doing the attacking, the murder, the torture? Former special forces from the military, and police. Yeah.

So all you dopes who lol at torture used overseas... well you may get to experience it first hand if we collapse that bad. Probably not as funny to experience it yourself.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 16:48 | 6707065 TruthHunter
TruthHunter's picture

steak for hamburger

then hamburger for hot dogs

 

Eventually SOYLENT GREEN?

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:38 | 6705933 OceanX
OceanX's picture

Ya'll slam Castro and what he did was kick out the banksters you profess to hate.  The way I see it,  what happened to Cuba was the retalliation of the banksters.  He was blocked from global trade and financing.

In addition, the conservation of their natural resources have preserved Florida's fishing waters! 

http://www.amazon.com/Deep-Cuba-American-Oceanographic-Expedition/dp/082...

When therre is an offshore oil spill in Cuba, it will be carried by the Gulf Stream all across the Atlantic and destroy a lot of Florida beach.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:07 | 6706088 44magnum
44magnum's picture

Supernova Born What the fuck does that have to do with zionist soda asshole

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:21 | 6706120 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

And he definitely is!  Sodascumbag is just peddling poison that the dupes are willingly consuming.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:25 | 6705262 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Yup.

 

inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon - Uncle Milt.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 12:43 | 6706470 laomei
laomei's picture

it's gluten free, cus they replaced the flour with sawdust

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:27 | 6704888 Mentaliusanything
Mentaliusanything's picture

Wait till you get the 24 pack of cheese that is sliced so thin its weight is the same as a 12 slices.

Now go study Square Inches... I swear they are shrinking the cheese in area (or the bread is getting larger)

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:49 | 6704955 SafelyGraze
SafelyGraze's picture

that's one heckuva avatar you got there, mentaliusanything (if that is your Real Name)

by any chance do you happen to clean hotel rooms?

hugs,
DSK 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:31 | 6705093 Gaius Frakkin' ...
Gaius Frakkin' Baltar's picture

Yeah, the sliced cheese is so thin now you can't pull the pieces apart without them disintegrating.

The local supermarket drywalled over the windows looking into the meat processing room. I don't want to know what they're putting in the hamburger or doing to the meat now.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:11 | 6705912 Took Red Pill
Took Red Pill's picture

yes, hamburger has "fillers" added, basically grains. Speaking of grains, cereal boxes are thinner so they look the same size from the front but contain much less cereal.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:03 | 6706216 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Speak for yourself.  I didn't draw for elk this year or last, but because I helped a friend's son whack one a couple of weeks ago, I got first dibs on the elk that was still in their freezer from last year.  It keeps for 2 years.  Because my friend's son got his elk, he said that if he gets a deer this year, I can have the meat if I go on the hunt with him.  I don't even know what hamburger costs these days.  But I do know that a small amount of beef fat is added to the elk and deer just so that the burgers will stick together becuase I know the butcher that he uses. 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:07 | 6705374 nosam
nosam's picture

The reduction in product sizes and quality is not so much a measure of inflation as a measure of the declining wealth of the population. People can afford less so the manufacturers change product size/quality to match.

The area I live in now has high inflation but salaries are growing at a faster pace. So I notice a gradual increase in quality and size of products.

That said, if you can afford to pay premium prices, you can get good quality pretty much anywhere.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:42 | 6705443 steveharless
steveharless's picture

Mentaliusanything - the same with bacon...the corporations slice it so thin.... it sucks.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 19:51 | 6707569 mkkby
mkkby's picture

Anybody remember when a case of beer was 24 cans?  Now they are all 20 or 18.  I guess they figured drunks have short memories.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:31 | 6704896 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

"1/2 gallon" of ice cream now 3 pints instead of 4 pints, canned vegetables going to 14 oz instead of 16 oz, "1 pound" bacon now transforming to 12 oz "healthier" packages with a "great price".

I swear to God they are going to sell a "bakers dozen" of 10 eggs instead of 12 for the same price 'ere long.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:46 | 6704941 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

It's nuts, sometime over the summer the cans of tomatoes we buy went from 14.75 oz to 14.0. Are they going to start making the cans thicker? Will the cans shrink to G.I. Joe size? Times is tough, people!

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:23 | 6705077 Whodathunkit
Whodathunkit's picture

Buy the imported brand from Europe. They haven't caught on to the smaller size package same amount of $. YET

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:10 | 6705565 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

Wait until Draghi gets ahold of 'em.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:31 | 6705727 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

Not true that Yurp doesn't have the same problem. Just look at tuna: smaller can, half-full, higher price. Same with everything. Inflation gets going because of corporate greed, which they "justify" by saying their costs are going up. It's a scam through and through. About time someone does a study to analyze when their costs really go up as opposed to them "claiming" their costs are going up. This inflation is a form of SYSTEMIC PRICE FIXING. Because it is systemic it is not considered price fixing as such from a legal point of view, so they get away with it. Like everything the elite does, they have total control and we are obliged to accept it. Same story with "gotcha capitalism". They pump a bag of potato chips full of air and then use the excuse that the the chips, which are cozily nestled in the bottom quarter of the bag, are being protected that way. Kind of like the mafia killing one of your kids and then offering to protect the others for a small stipend.

The Yurpeans also pay much higher prices due to how things are packaged. I buy dried beans and pressure cook them, but even there, you cannot buy beans in bulk. Instead you must pay an arm and a leg for a small package. It has gotten to the point that if a bean falls to the floor, I search for it like the widow searching for her lost penny. Pretty soon they will be packaging single beans. I figured that out using mathematical induction.

Eventually, we former middle class people will enjoy the same standard of living as the poor in the third world. 

 

 

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:05 | 6706235 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Not to mention that a lot of the "tuna" that you buy is not actually tuna, it is escolar. 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:57 | 6706212 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Canned tomatoes may have been processed in a facility that also processes horse meat and/or vegemite.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:47 | 6705145 Caught_Fish
Caught_Fish's picture

G'day, here in Victoria Australia supermarkets are required to show the unit price on the shelf label. It makes it very easy to choose the item based on price. E.G. toilet paper and tissues would show 20 cents per 100ea brand A and 25 cents per 100ea brand B regardles of the carton total.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:44 | 6705445 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

I can see unit prices here in the states when I shop.

Doesn't mean the reduction in purchasing power isn't real.

We're all getting screwed and taking it like we enjoy it.

I'm afraid it's'gonna take blood to reform this shitshow the FED and their congress critters have spun on the sheeple.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:06 | 6706237 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

I bet that most people don't look at unit price. 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:17 | 6705245 Elliott Eldrich
Elliott Eldrich's picture

"I swear to God they are going to sell a "bakers dozen" of 10 eggs instead of 12 for the same price 'ere long."

A "bakers dozen" is 13. A "banker's dozen" is 10. Just FYI...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:58 | 6705469 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Right, understand, they'll whore the terminology to make a buck.

That is the new normal, like ZIRP being for "prosperity" and to "help the economy".  Fucking wankers, I hope they hang or lose their heads, God willing.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 09:03 | 6705973 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Your 3G phone is now 4G.

We cheated some folks.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 16:52 | 6707080 TruthHunter
TruthHunter's picture

1/2 gallon" of ice cream now 3 pints instead of 4 pints

If there was anymore air it would be whipped cream.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 00:25 | 6705502 W.M. Worry
W.M. Worry's picture

Who the fuck buys sliced cheese? What are you too tired to slice your own cheese? 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:39 | 6705600 Laowei Gweilo
Laowei Gweilo's picture

ummmm most grocers are loaded with dozens of types of sliced cheese. bulk fresh slices of hard cheese. those manufactured softer Kraft slices. et cetera... you european?

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 20:43 | 6707701 amadeus39
amadeus39's picture

Does that apply to bread as well? Greatest thing since sliced cheese?   Maybe not.

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:29 | 6705741 CC Lemon
CC Lemon's picture

fuck me, I live in Japan. We only get SEVEN slices per pack. W...T....F...?

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 16:58 | 6707109 . . . _ _ _ . . .
. . . _ _ _ . . .'s picture

Pork, beef, and chicken are injected with water to increase the weight. Buy some fresh, freeze it, thaw it, and see for yourself how much water collects in the tray. Even with two meat tampons, the meat is swimming. Not only is the price of meat rising quickly, the quantities are dropping, too. Look also towards the hamburger patties in your favourite fast food outlet. I do believe that the statistics bureaus of many governments are guilty of fraud, not to mention the grocers and butchers involved.

"New and improved" is not inaccurate, it is simply improved from the shareholders POV.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:40 | 6705310 The central planners
The central planners's picture

Theres also stealth deflation on gold and silver.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:42 | 6704716 Normalcy Bias
Normalcy Bias's picture

Yes, Ferfal is super accessible, and responsive. I bet he's shaking his head seeing that the US is very likely about to get it's own Christina Kirchner...

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:41 | 6705749 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

Does Christina Kirchner attend black masses?

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:26 | 6706130 Colonel Klink
Colonel Klink's picture

Maybe, but Hitlery leads them.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:58 | 6706215 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Worse: manifesto meetings.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:53 | 6704756 oooBooo
oooBooo's picture

Before the collapse I could buy TP in something called 'mega rolls'. That size is gone. It was a size where a lot of TP was tightly wound on one roll. I liked it because it took up less space and there were fewer roll changes. Also fewer roll cores and packaging per sq ft so it was cheaper. I figure it was victim of seeking profit margin.

There's a lot of tricks in the TP business though to make people feel like they are getting more.  Always have to to judge $/ft^2 or ft^2/$ to see which one is actually the better buy.

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:30 | 6704895 Exalt
Exalt's picture

You put a lot of thought into that with which you wipe your ass. 

That demonstrates a uniqueness to you I can't quite put my finger on.

It's definitely a good thing though. I hope you find mega rolls soon.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:53 | 6705346 tmosley
tmosley's picture

BS, if he put any thought into it at all, he'd have bought a bidet attachment for his toilet from amazon for $25 and never bothered with TP again aside from sanitary drying.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:36 | 6705595 Tall Tom
Tall Tom's picture

People as yourself are the reason that some people currently use the Currency as Toilet Paper...BEFORE SPENDING IT.

 

(Just why do you thinkthat the cashiers wear plastic gloves. Do you? Do YOUR CHILDREN?)

 

Got change fer a Stinkin Lincoln?

 

The point is that THERE IS INFLATION...STEALTH INFLATION.

 

So keep on...eeping on...pretending.

 

Your economy is crumbling...before your eyes.

 

And you did not go to a cashless society soon enough.

 

Currency can be used as a Biological, Chemical, and Radiological Weapon Delivery System.

 

Did I put enough thought into it fer ya?

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:49 | 6705610 spdrdr
spdrdr's picture

Remember, Inshallah, that you ONLY use your LEFT hand to wipe, and shake and eat from your RIGHT hand.

{Brought to you from the Caliphate of toilet etiquette}

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:42 | 6705750 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

Damn! I've been doing the opposite. And I shake a lot of hands.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:57 | 6705961 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

Once you have the food out of the communal plate, you can spice it however you wish.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:54 | 6705349 adr
adr's picture

I only buy the $1 rolls of single ply Scott's. 109 sq ft of TP in 1000 sheets.

A 6 pack of Charmin mega rolls they claim has 12 rolls worth of paper cost $5.49 but only have 120sq ft total on the six rolls.

People look at the Charmin and see that they are paying less than buying six rolls of Scott's. Hell the Charmin says 6 mega rolls equal to 12 regular rolls. That means to get the equal number of rolls in Scott's you would have to buy 12 rolls and the Charmin is double ply. THAT'S 24 ROLLS OF SCOTT'S!!!! $24 for toilet paper is insane. Thank god the Charmin is only $5.49.

People are stupid and can't do math.

One roll of Scott's is equal to just about five and a half rolls of Charmin. Each roll of Charmin is only 20 sq ft. Sure you can say the Scott's is only one ply, but the one ply is thicker than a single ply of Charmin and stronger. But we'll play the two ply game. Take six sheets of Scott's and fold it to three double ply sheets each time you grab some. You still get 55 ish sq feet of TP for $1. Almost three rolls of Charmin.

Because most people wad or fold TP, multiple ply is just a waste. It was actually created to make people use more TP and have to buy it more often.

My household gets a week or more out of a roll of Scott's. My wife was duped by the TP scam for a while. Sometimes she buys Charmin because it is on sale. A six pack is gone in a week. We could spend $25 on toilet paper a month or we could spend $4. I guess people see expensive toilet paper as a luxury they can afford. Just about the dumbest thing you can do with your money.

God I fucking hate this Wall Street managed country.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:35 | 6705425 hxc
hxc's picture

You seem to have forgotten three things:

1) toilet paper has three dimensions

2) scott's is half-ply crap

 3) that's the point of the article

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 05:07 | 6705754 Escapeclaws
Escapeclaws's picture

Its a mathematical problem. The surface area of a cylinder varies with the circumference; ie, h*2*Pi*r. It becomes a calculus problem due to the thickness of the tissue. That's why Yurpean TP rolls are so narrow. They figure their costs on a volume basis.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 05:11 | 6705762 ThirdWorldDude
ThirdWorldDude's picture

Also because Europeans' asses in general are narrower than Muricans'.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:42 | 6705441 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

#asswipelivesmatter

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 00:48 | 6705536 garlansm
garlansm's picture

Brilliant!

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:16 | 6705917 snr-moment
snr-moment's picture

How stupid.  At the local wal-mart there is half an aisle of toilet paper.  Other countries?

 

Leave it to ZH to cry about inflation over soda.  Maybe they were just maximizing profit.  Maybe uncle DeBlasio told them to do this.  The price of water and CO2 hasn't gone up.

Also, champ, forget the square footage and just weigh the stuff on the produce scale.  then get back to us.

 

For my part, I'll pay the extra to avoid all the middle finger enemas.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:36 | 6704913 Tom Servo
Tom Servo's picture

Not sure if it's the same thing, but costco usually carries something comparable to those "mega rolls", charmin i believe - had to buy some grocery store ass wipe between costco trips and the roll seems 1/2 inch less width, the tube is bigger, and it's not tightly rolled on there, and much thinner.

 

Yeah there's no inflation.  Waiting for some 340 ml soda and beer cans to start appearing...

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:48 | 6704929 Supernova Born
Supernova Born's picture

AB InBev has your product.

Bottles of Stella Artois are 11.2 ounces.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 03:07 | 6705677 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

If it wasnt for the dollar standard we would be worse off than Venezuela regarding toilet paper. Just saying.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:26 | 6705082 Whodathunkit
Whodathunkit's picture

Ever heard of RV tp? It was smaller for a reason. Now all tp is RV tp. FREAKY

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:53 | 6705343 erkme73
erkme73's picture

Yes, and you can use it to touch your inner self if you're not super careful.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:51 | 6705612 I reckon so
I reckon so's picture

That's the funniest thing I've read on here in a long time!  One has to look for the nuggets anywhere they can (wait, was that wrong?).

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 02:24 | 6705646 zhandax
zhandax's picture

The Charmin substitute I have been buying changed maybe 9 months ago and now you have to choose between extra soft and extra strong.  I couldn't tell the difference from the package so I started with the extra soft and I know exactly what you mean.  Wear a rubber glove, cause you will get a prostate exam before you run out of TP.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 10:59 | 6706219 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Use FRNs...it's all the rage in Venezuela, coming soon to a banana republic near you!

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 05:23 | 6705767 Canoe Driver
Canoe Driver's picture

American culture is based on financial rape of the working class by a criminal elite. Always was. Part of the system is the illusion fed the common man that his interests are represented by the political class, who in reality are merely business agents for the rich. This illusion dies hard.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 20:36 | 6707687 amadeus39
amadeus39's picture

The financial system is raping the common people because it can. The common people must enjoy being raped. Let the raping continue. Everyone is happy.

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:41 | 6704707 SILVERGEDDON
SILVERGEDDON's picture

Answer - don't buy products. Products are designed to kill you slowly for the benefit of the medical profession.

Buy real foods. Buy organics. Buy in bulk, and buy fresh at your local farmer's markets.

Yes, it takes time to do this, and will take some extra cash as well. So, kill your cable bill, stop eating junk food, and shit can that bovine growth hormone Roundup ready feed milk cow latte you pony up for every morning - about 3-4 hundred a month right there you can spend on quality food.

If you don't, in 20- 40 years, you are gonna feel like shit, look like shit, have shitty health problems or be dead already.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:48 | 6704949 petolo
petolo's picture

Warning: don't buy bacon, sausage, processed meats. WHO about to declare them carcinogenic; as dangerous as cigarettes. More colo-rectal surgeons, please. There are openings for you where the sun don't shine.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:18 | 6705060 Talleyrand
Talleyrand's picture

Says WHO (fucking globalists)! And why?

 

Bacon makes the world go 'round.

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:15 | 6705240 newworldorder
newworldorder's picture

Especially when trying to keep Muslim migrant  invaders out of your Country.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:22 | 6705257 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

All I would say is don't buy GMO-fed animal meats. That is hard to find, even amongst the organic producers, because many of them feed their stocks GMO corn. Believe me, it's worth the extra effort to find out what exactly those animals eat, especially chickens.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:27 | 6705735 Lurk Skywatcher
Lurk Skywatcher's picture

petolo, are you the offspring of your father and the woman your father identifies as?

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 09:00 | 6705969 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

petolo:

"Warning: don't buy bacon, sausage, processed meats."

Damn Straight!

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:00 | 6706221 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Seems like a shitty job.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 13:48 | 6706619 itstippy
itstippy's picture

I've been eat eating processed food for 30 years eat and and I've never experienced any eat eat and adverse physical or and and eat mental problems and.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:44 | 6704722 Takeaction2
Takeaction2's picture

Got my fucking Property Tax bill today $6182.00  here in Oregon...are you kidding me?  That is up nearly $700 from last year.  No inflation?  I make great money as I have said before.  But after I get hit over and over...it takes it down to doing good.  The top 3 for me...Health Insurance for my Wife and I $7644.00 (up 14% from last year)  Property Tax $6182.00 (up 12% over last year)  Car Insurance (4 cars) $2670.00 (Up 14% over last year).  That is $16496.00 right out of the gate.  Me personally I am witnessing approx 12% to 19% inflation personally.  Yes we do live good and are blessed for our hard work, but Inflation is here.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:55 | 6704764 TeamDepends
TeamDepends's picture

That's your share of the Lesbian Wedding Cake Refusal Pain And Suffrage Tax.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:56 | 6704770 Takeaction2
Takeaction2's picture

Thats a good one.....I used to go into their bakery...Best Cupcakes EVER.  

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:05 | 6704816 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture

That's a yuuuuuuuuuuge increase!

 

I'm in the same boat. I kinda regret buying a house now since property taxes, insurance, maintenace, etc are rising way too fast. The house values in my neighborhood hav ebeen moving sideways now for three years.

Renting was much cheaper.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:36 | 6704885 LowerSlowerDela...
LowerSlowerDelaware_LSD's picture

"Renting was much cheaper."

Until your house is paid off - assuming you don't have to hire someone to change a light bulb (you are moderately handy).

Move to a non-leftist run state/county where property taxes as well as regulations are at reasonable levels.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 02:22 | 6705639 NidStyles
NidStyles's picture

Even in the red states if you cause to much trouble they take your property.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 04:06 | 6705717 bigkahuna
bigkahuna's picture

Entrepreneurs especially have been raked over the coals for health insurance. Many are being forced into buying the bozocare insurance and the rates are increasing to the tune of 80 - 90 percent next year for families. Just so the FSA can have whatever subsidy they get. Thats inflation stats which are clearly available to the .gov agencies which track this. Perhaps they average it out so that the productive members inflation is offset by the FSA's entitlement? I am getting angry typing this.  

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:25 | 6705266 Implied Violins
Implied Violins's picture

Squatting is even cheaper. And if you do it right, you can cut back on TP, too. But seriously: I rent because I saw this shitstorm coming years ago, even though I make enough to buy my own place. That's what I hope to do - God willing - after all of this is over, if I can find my sunken boats with PM/s...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:28 | 6705274 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Perhaps they can employ the Lezzies to pump gas.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:07 | 6704817 Pwdrhead1711
Pwdrhead1711's picture

Try paying 3% property tax on $5million in residential property here in Houston. I bought the empty lot next to my bay house for $240k, six months later in March of this year they assessed it at $375k! Government gone wild...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:03 | 6705011 Talleyrand
Talleyrand's picture

Did you not know you would be paying property taxes when you bought it? If the local tax extortionists can arbitrarily raise their 'vig', isn't it really worth something less than five million?

 

Oh, and don't eat cupcakes or buy soda mix or insure four automobiles or pay property taxes - that's a start. The more you consume, the bigger the target you present.

 

Do live on your boat, eat right and well, drink box wine, be happy and courteous. Try it - if you can - you might like it (or not).

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:12 | 6705232 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Box wine. Wow. Fartin' through silk now, aren't ya?

Fag.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:03 | 6706229 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

"They've only got Pouilly-Fume in a box?! SAVAGES!!"

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:29 | 6705279 A Nanny Moose
A Nanny Moose's picture

Van down by the river.....get with the "plan" :P

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:23 | 6705579 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

that's why micro houses on wheels have 'taken off'

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:00 | 6705553 PirateOfBaltimore
PirateOfBaltimore's picture

Even baltimore doesn't fuck me that hard. First property tax appraisal was 2 yrs after purchase. Until then the value, wrt taxes is the purchase  price.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 12:55 | 6706494 EINSILVERGUY
EINSILVERGUY's picture

I hear you. 

I'm renting now in Houston. Bought 3 acres about 15 miles southwest of CS near Snook.  

20K and $256 in property taxes. Going to cost another 30K for land clearing, well, septic, fence and pond. 

Worse case scenario I pull a mobile on it as a bug out location with my wife and 2 german shepherds. Best case I build on it in 5 years and will probably pay 1/4 of what you are having to.  

The tax man will eventually reach deeper in my pocket but Im betting when the shit storm happens they will be too busy dealing with Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antone uprisings that my piddly little piece of land. 

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:23 | 6704874 taopraxis
taopraxis's picture

I looked up some numbers the other day; Average monthly Social Security check would have covered my property tax bill with $200 left over in 1985. Today, the average SS check still covers the monthly property tax with $200 left over. Unfortunately, $200 does not buy what it did 30 years ago.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:31 | 6705588 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

you might be able to get enough toilet paper for the year ..... /snark

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:52 | 6704965 Surging Chaos
Surging Chaos's picture

Do you live in Multnomah County? It sounds like it if you're getting walloped with $6k+ in property taxes.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:01 | 6705004 Takeaction2
Takeaction2's picture

Yes

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:29 | 6705585 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

when I lived in beaverton years ago, my property taxes went up $350 a month in less than a year and a half... $4200 a year. The house I bought at $169k is 'worth' $425k today yet its the same f'g place as built in 1958 except some cosmetic things (floors were already 2.5 inch beams of tongue and groove wood planks with oak covering all of it)... its all bs on steroids.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:12 | 6705236 newworldorder
newworldorder's picture

Pennies on the dollar.

Crook County, IL suburb.   3000 sq ft home = $14,000 to $16,000 county tax based on size of lot. 10 out of 10 schoold districts however.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 07:31 | 6705869 chubbar
chubbar's picture

You got it good. I pay 13K for property tax and 10K for health/dental. You can thank the fucking cunts down at the town office for voting themselves pay and pension raises besides figuring out new and improved ways to spend money on bullshit.

Case in point, this past week in my smallish town they are doing road construction. Putting in town water lines and repaving the road. So, the contruction company has the folks with the slow/stop signs, walkie talkies, etc to get traffic safely rerouted around the site. NOW, they also have added 3 cops and cop cars with lights flashing. So we have about 180K in vehicles along with 3 dudes making what 70K or so per year sitting on their ass for 8 hours probably collecting overtime as well. They even brought in cops from neighboring towns because they want to share in the boondoggle.

They could easily mount the same flashing lights on a sawhorse with a rechargeable battery pack and save all of that money but no one gives a shit about spending our tax dollars. It is fucking insane and I can't wait for this system to crash!

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 09:40 | 6706038 Takeaction2
Takeaction2's picture

Wow...Your numbers make me feel even worse...WHy?  Because I know those numbers of yours will be my numbers too.  This has to stop.  And about your IDEA with the sawhorse....How could you take our jobs with these robotic devices you speak of creating...pure criminal. (/S)  HAHAHAHA.  Thanks for the post.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 11:11 | 6706255 hardmedicine
hardmedicine's picture

Look, don't cry, your house is worth a lot of money and you knew this when you signed onto it.  Why do people insist on a FUCKING LIFESTYLE! and then crab about the cost to upkeep it.  Why can't you all just decide to move out of the rat race and put your cash in gold and live in a shack like me.  I'm pulling now over 200K a year and live in a 900 dollar a month shack that i rent.  So don't come bitching

 

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 13:42 | 6706606 Takeaction2
Takeaction2's picture

Ya know why?  Because I like a nice life.  Live in your shit hole...Not me.  That is not a life.  And I will bitch because I can....and things keep going up.  Do I really care?.....Nope.  Does it suck...Yup...

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 12:21 | 6706423 glenlloyd
glenlloyd's picture

The property tax increase game is going on all over the place.

I found that it's not worth fighting anymore, the game there is rigged too.

City Assessor (who stands to benefit from increased taxes) determines that your house is worth more. They in turn tell the County (who stands to benefit from increased taxes) that your property is worth more. You go in to the County to contest their valuation based on their info and you lose.

They make this happen when they raise all property taxes arbitrarily. And since the City of Des Moines lost their case for illegal franchise fee the City needs to take more money from you to pay that back and to support their huge awful bureaucracy of idiots.

It's a rigged game...

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:58 | 6704781 Abitdodgie
Abitdodgie's picture

Sodastream is made in Israel so why the hell would you support those fucks.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 08:56 | 6705960 perkunas
perkunas's picture

The jews wont chop your head off and keep your girls ie your daughter as sex slaves, the Muslims will.

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:19 | 6704857 uhland62
uhland62's picture

Hm, I am tempted here in Australia.  

A German friend of mine said about 25 years ago 'I have no idea what kind of dice they use to determine inflation rates', but we all know there's a whole catalogue for 'lies, damned lied, and statistics'. 

The reason is quite clear, people should not be supplied with arguments to increase wages, but this strategy is nearing the end of its lifespan. Repaying national debt, in all countries, requires some inflation or everything goes pop. Why the bureaus of statistics are actively undermining this is frightening because it shows how inadequate current power structures are. 

 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 23:49 | 6705455 robertsgt40
robertsgt40's picture

Check who owns sodastream. Standard business principles applied. 

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:19 | 6704621 two hoots
two hoots's picture

Same with certain cracker brands, chips, nuts, coffees, many products.  

Other:

Talking about inflation, Microsoft inflated over 10% in one day.  

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:35 | 6704681 LetThemEatRand
LetThemEatRand's picture

So the cracker brands are inflated.  What about the hood brands?

Seriously, anyone who has gone shopping recently (e.g., not politicians who have their shopping done for them, on our dime) knows that we are on the precipice of hyperinflation in every day goods that you can eat and drink.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:35 | 6704911 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

Yeah, but if we just stop eating think of all the extra gas and i-crap we could have!!

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:19 | 6704623 cowdiddly
cowdiddly's picture

I prefer to drink Kool Aidtm. They are practically giving that away.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:46 | 6704731 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

Haha.I like it.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:50 | 6704732 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:51 | 6704739 Max Steel
Max Steel's picture

Hate my samsung.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:04 | 6705557 PirateOfBaltimore
PirateOfBaltimore's picture

S6 typing lag repeating entire words repest8nt repeating entire repeating entire words sucks my cock.

 

I want my HTC bsck

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 06:44 | 6705828 ThirdWorldDude
ThirdWorldDude's picture

Rooted S4 with installed Lollipop OS here, works like a swiss clock...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:38 | 6705300 IndyPat
IndyPat's picture

Oh Yeah!

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 01:33 | 6705591 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

any news or financial channel/program serves up Kool-Aid every day....

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:22 | 6704640 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

Many other examples from toilet paper with ever changing 'roll' sizes (how do 8 rolls equal 54?), and with half gallons of ice cream, pounds of coffee, Campbell's soups, boxes of cereal, etc.

Sat, 10/24/2015 - 09:07 | 6705982 New_Meat
New_Meat's picture

maybe Sheryl Crowe had it right with her "one square" campaign for the little people.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:24 | 6704646 SillySalesmanQu...
SillySalesmanQuestion's picture

The Ministry of Truth will not like this...

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:25 | 6704651 jtg
jtg's picture

This has been going on, especially since 2009. Containers are getting smaller for the same or higher cost. Low inflation, my eye. Usual tricks of the liars that rule over us serfs.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:26 | 6704655 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

Beer is so fucking expensive.  So is gold.  I bet Bernanke likes beer as much as he likes gold.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:38 | 6704696 The Pope
The Pope's picture

Meh ~ I hear he prefers Manichewitz

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 21:43 | 6705135 daveO
daveO's picture

Mogen David Blackberry. Mmm

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 20:07 | 6704818 Crocodile
Crocodile's picture

Actually, there is less alcohol in most beers and therefore between the higher price and less alcohol, the inflation is quite high.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:26 | 6704657 Automatic Choke
Automatic Choke's picture

Fortunately, they haven't figured out how to do this with fresh vegetables or slabs of meat from the butcher counter.   

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:29 | 6704665 Pure Evil
Pure Evil's picture

The butcher uses the Rule of Thumb when pressing down on the scale to help inflate the weight of the product.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 19:34 | 6704688 ali-ali-al-qomfri
ali-ali-al-qomfri's picture

I thought the 'rule of thumb' was in relation to the size/diameter stick you are allowed to use to beat your spouse.

 

thumb on the scale or lead paint.

Fri, 10/23/2015 - 22:57 | 6705355 flyingcaveman
flyingcaveman's picture

Plenty of and 'meat product' is injected with water.  Chicken, ham/bacon I can tell because I save my bacon grease. probably steak too for all I know.  Same with the veggies,  I can't grow those water sticks they call celery and my bell peppers are small with tough meaty skins.

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