[templar]

The Consumer Price Index shows the increase for the year of 2003 was 1.9% meaning wages and benefits increased at DOUBLE the rate of inflation.

I don't think your read my post very carefully. Why don't you go look up what the consumer price index includes and how it is figured and then compare it to what the middle class and lower people have to spend to maintain their lives. I gave a very precise example from my own life, and everyone I know concurs that their situations are similar. increasing credit card debt is reflective of a real wage loss, as are several other indicators that also aren't considered, such as number of bankruptcies.

You can believe whatever figures are fed to you by the overlords as you wish, but most people are going to look at their personal conditions to determine if their wages have actually gone up or not.

[oceanview]

does it include taxes and housing costs (inflation in the price of acquiring a home)? are they still excluding food and energy, because no one eats or uses gasoline?

[Jorge]

"The Consumer Price Index shows the increase for the year of 2003 was 1.9% meaning wages and benefits increased at DOUBLE the rate of inflation."

I don't think your read my post very carefully.

I read your entire post very carefully which is why I simply presented you with the actual statistics above from the Dept. of Labor.

Why don't you go look up what the consumer price index includes and how it is figured and then compare it to what the middle class and lower people have to spend to maintain their lives. I gave a very precise example from my own life, and everyone I know concurs that their situations are similar.

So you think that your person budget and the people you personally have talked to present more accurate statistics than those provided by the Department of Labor.
You've got to be kidding.
According to you, if you and all of your friends are layed off that therefore makes the unemployment rate 100%. LOL. Forget what the Dept of Labor stats show.

You can believe whatever figures are fed to you by the overlords as you wish, but most people are going to look at their personal conditions to determine if their wages have actually gone up or not.

The Dept. of Labor stats show that American wages are increasing in general.
They don't tell YOU that therefore your personal wages are among those that have increased. Anybody knows this.

I'm sorry to hear that you and your friends are not keeping up with national average in wage increases.

Personally I have exceeded the 3.8% rate. My wages have increased an average of 10% each year for the past 7 years.