You have to be somewhat careful here, because these categories are very specific. Discontinuing a category is not the same as not tracking the items that were in that category, as they may be covered by another category that is being tracked.
That said, it is good to be on alert for this kind of data manipulation, since they do it all the time.
The coffee description is what made me think about this.
They may have made a new category that would included both cans and bags of the same size range. We buy our coffee at Costco, so ours would have to be captured in another category entirely.
This reminds me of a decade or so ago here in Ontario Canada when the mandatory math testing scores for kids were coming in too low and the teachers union suggested we just change the way it is scored to get the scores up rather than actually teaching the kids better. Haha.
If they keep doing these hedonic adjustments forever, then eventually they won't be left with anything to adjust. This 1984 Orwellian future we are living in is out of control! State the inflation rate as it is!!!! It isn't that hard.
You have to be somewhat careful here, because these categories are very specific. Discontinuing a category is not the same as not tracking the items that were in that category, as they may be covered by another category that is being tracked.
That said, it is good to be on alert for this kind of data manipulation, since they do it all the time.
Maybe....I do notice via shrinkflation that you hardly ever see "1 lb" of coffee anymore. Its usually packaged in 12 or 14oz bags.
The coffee description is what made me think about this.
They may have made a new category that would included both cans and bags of the same size range. We buy our coffee at Costco, so ours would have to be captured in another category entirely.
I think you are right.
I think this is some old "expired" category. When I pull data for this category number, the last data is from 1988?
So there must be another category its reporting under.
Is there a good source to really get down in the weeds re individual items?
The site is wonky, but if you go to:
https://www.bls.gov/cpi/data.htm
And then choose "Average Price Data -- One Screen" that should take you where you can get individual data
This reminds me of a decade or so ago here in Ontario Canada when the mandatory math testing scores for kids were coming in too low and the teachers union suggested we just change the way it is scored to get the scores up rather than actually teaching the kids better. Haha.
"Wherever you go, there you are"
https://youtu.be/_ogxZxu6cjM?si=2sDUs-bBZDBGQ0Kp
Haha sounds about right
Bought a black coffee from Starbucks the other day... $3.45 before tax... when did that happen ðŸ˜
Feels like just yesterday it was $2
Meanwhile......
https://m.stacker.news/30779
Seems like prices have gone up an average of 15% per year over the last 5 years - up 100% in that time period.
It seems obvious why they removed it....
If they keep doing these hedonic adjustments forever, then eventually they won't be left with anything to adjust. This 1984 Orwellian future we are living in is out of control! State the inflation rate as it is!!!! It isn't that hard.
Gotta keep the Ponzi going ..
Ahh the old vegetable oil actually seed oil trick