[kingu]

I use the Candy Bar Index. Which is now 1.05, for a candy bar that was 75 cents 2 years ago, and has risen from 15 cents in the past 30 years. The CPI says that the fifteen cent candy bar should be just 39 cents today, or a premium bar for a quarter would be 65 cents today.

[blackdog]

A gallon of milk. The input costs and distribution represent less than five days form the cow eating her corn. The contracts for delivery buffer this somewhat, but not much because the processor assigns their direct costs immediately.

Watch dry nonfat milk contracts. Those give a better long term picture without the sawtooth daily bounces.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***The CPI says that the fifteen cent candy bar should be just 39 cents today, or a premium bar for a quarter would be 65 cents today.***

I remember when a Hershey bar was 5 cents. Half as much as a bottle of soda pop.

Here is a list of groceries from 1963.

Flour, 10 lb, 99 cents.
Bacon 2 lb 79 cents.
Catsup 14 oz 15 cents.
Potatoes 25 lb 59 cents
Tomatoes 15 cents a lb.
Hams 39 cents a lb.

In 1888 Levis cost $1.80 a pair.

73 years later...
In 1961 Levis cost $2.60 a pair.

50 years later...
In 2011, Levis (now made overseas) cost about $35.00 a pair. Using the earlier inflation rate (1888-1961) they should not cost over $6.00 a pair today.

Inflation really went into overdrive since 1963, when the Democratic Johnson administration took over.