Is the economy roaring or is inflation roaring?

[EL PRESIDENTE]

What do you say. No fucking bullshit stats from the Economist or Paul Krugman or any of that.

Are you saving more or are you spending more at the end of the day.

I seem to have less money now, it doesn't take me as far. Everything seems more expensive. My income has been flat although work has been steady. Things just seem to cost more, even though I'm cutting out expenses.

What say you?

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The other day I went to Fatburger, a fast food spot. A regular ass burger, fries and drink ended up being $12.36. The fuck is that man. Used to be you could get a burger combo for 6 or 7 bucks.

 

[Denny Crane]

Carl's Jr. just closed down here. It was there for the past 10+ years, maybe more. So did another one of the burger chains. Joe's Crab Shack is going under or the location being sold.

Economy is great!

I walk down the main street downtown (not downtown SD) here and see lots of empty store fronts. All have great foot traffic. Even the marijuana store and head shop next door are gone.

Many of the bars are being bought up by one or two families/ownership groups. The environment isn't very good for small businesses. Even Saska's, a steak house that's been here for 50+ years is for sale.

And this is a resort town, destination for snowbirds in the winter and desert dwellers seeking relief from the 120 degree heat in the summer.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

The funny thing is rents and housing is getting WAY more expensive here. Like insanity pricing.

Someone is making more money or a bubble is inflating. I'm guessing its the latter. This isn't going to end well at all.

 

[magnifier661]

I think prices are rising. This seems odd though since the dollar has been so strong. You would think we could import products for much cheaper, yet here we are spending more money than usual

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yeah, that's the other thing. Apparently the dollar is stronger than ever so Americans abroad have more buying power. I think world prices outside are staying constant while things here are getting more expensive?

 

[Denny Crane]

MacDonalds' sales are down. Must be because people can afford to eat at more expensive places or buy groceries.

I do notice that it's really expensive for a bag of groceries.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I've been eating out less, cooking at home more. I used to eat out way more often, like every meal. I've been going to Trader Joes, prices seem pretty normal though.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Oil is down too, that should have lowered prices on pretty much everything.

 

[magnifier661]

Oil is down too, that should have lowered prices on pretty much everything.

Yep, transportation costs are at an all time low right now. We ship large weight throughout the world and we've seen at least a 30% discount on shipping costs.

Before, we would pay roughly $0.85 per lb. Now we pay around $0.62 per lb.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Noticed hamburger is more expensive than some steaks the other day

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Yep, transportation costs are at an all time low right now. We ship large weight throughout the world and we've seen at least a 30% discount on shipping costs.

Before, we would pay roughly $0.85 per lb. Now we pay around $0.62 per lb.

Did you lower your prices? Raise them? Keep them the same?

 

[Denny Crane]

It costs people overseas $1.30 to buy $1 worth of our stuff.

So there's like a 30% tax on our goods and services.

 

[magnifier661]

Did you lower your prices? Raise them? Keep them the same?

Shipping doesn't effect our cost that much, we've budgeted in the influx of shipping in our price already. Most the time our customers are the ones who pay the shipping costs. We sell our product F.O.B., but we quote for them with our carriers.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

It's inflation, it will get worse if min wage shoots way up too. Prices of food will be sky high.