Cost of Living - Shrinkflation is speeding up at an alarming rate

May I point out the big mac index :cry: https://truflation.com/marketplace/uk-big-mac
Since 2010 for the UK, essentially the purchasing power of the GBP per the big mac index, has halved

BOE calculator seems to think inflation during the same time is "only" 50% (the conspiracist in me feels that whatever basket of goods they'll use to massage the figures)
But for the common folk, I think +100% is probably nearer to the truth
 
Mint8 said:
Looked at booking a hotel in the States today - by coincidence I turned out some old papers at the weekend and found my bill for the same hotel from 10 years ago - the amount per night they want now is almost exactly 300% more than back in 2014....needless to say my wages didnt increase by 300% during the same period.
Click to expand...
isn't that more to do with the Dollar now being a lot more valuable versus the pound than it was 10 years ago.

About 20 years ago it was something like £1 = 2USD

but our country has been mis managed for decades


but if your 10 year old hotel booking is in dollars, then the above is null and void.
 
Last edited:
No - I was comparing the actual dollar per night rate then to now.

When you convert it to GBP it seems even worse of course but actually only to an extent because of the exchange rate - back then was 1.52 (what I got when I paid my bill) versus 1.30 now.
 
I was at a training course the other day with work, looking at strategy deployment. The guy puts up a sanitised example from a real company that works in "vehicle propulsion systems". Their goal was to increase profits by 50%. How did they look to achieve this? By re-engineering their tech so that instead of 2 replacements during they lifecycle of a vehicle, the components wear quicker and need to be replaced 3 times. Boom! 50% increase.
I was shocked but he pointed out that GE (General Electric) did this years ago and it became the industry norm. That's why a GE fridge from 30 years ago is probably still going but a new one lasts a maximum of 8 years.
Explains so much.
 
tamzzy said:
BOE calculator seems to think inflation during the same time is "only" 50% (the conspiracist in me feels that whatever basket of goods they'll use to massage the figures)
Click to expand...

I believe the last basket of goods included airline flights which, between it and something else (cars I think), brought the inflation figure down.... Sorry but since when should an airline ticket be in the "basket of goods"
 
checjb said:
I was at a training course the other day with work, looking at strategy deployment. The guy puts up a sanitised example from a real company that works in "vehicle propulsion systems". Their goal was to increase profits by 50%. How did they look to achieve this? By re-engineering their tech so that instead of 2 replacements during they lifecycle of a vehicle, the components wear quicker and need to be replaced 3 times. Boom! 50% increase.
I was shocked but he pointed out that GE (General Electric) did this years ago and it became the industry norm. That's why a GE fridge from 30 years ago is probably still going but a new one lasts a maximum of 8 years.
Explains so much.
Click to expand...

Planned/built in obsolescence, been around for donkeys years.

Look up light bulb planned obsolescence.
 
Richie said:
I believe the last basket of goods included airline flights which, between it and something else (cars I think), brought the inflation figure down.... Sorry but since when should an airline ticket be in the "basket of goods"
Click to expand...

Yup luxury cars and private jet charters are down, inflation is down, all you peasants stop complaining........
 
Richie said:
Fuel profit margins are under the spotlight.... again:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyvlz48868o


The thing that gets me is that the CMA are reporting their concerns but seem to be unable to actually do anything? Is there a point of them reporting it if they cant/wont do anything about it?
Click to expand...
Unless there is evidence of fuel retailers colluding do maintain high prices, what do you expect them to do?

I’d say buy an EV and you won’t need to put up with high prices but if you can’t charge at home, you’ll run into the exact same issue due to limited local competition. Home charging on the other hand is pretty competitive.
 
Last edited:
b0rn2sk8 said:
Unless there is evidence of fuel retailers colluding do maintain high prices, what do you expect them to do?

I’d say buy an EV and you won’t need to put up with high prices but if you can’t charge at home, you’ll run into the exact same issue due to limited local competition. Home charging on the other hand is pretty competitive.
Click to expand...
Unmm electricity cost anyone?....

Ev are not immune to price hikes
 
jonneymendoza said:
Unmm electricity cost anyone?....

Ev are not immune to price hikes
Click to expand...
Overnight off peak charging has been consistently cheap right the way though the energy crisis.

It’s cheap because it’s done when where is excess power and we are not relying on expensive imported gas being pushed through an expensive peaker plant or a diesel generator which usually sets the price of electricity at peak times.
 
b0rn2sk8 said:
Overnight off peak charging has been consistently cheap right the way though the energy crisis.

It’s cheap because it’s done when where is excess power and we are not relying on expensive imported gas being pushed through an expensive peaker plant or a diesel generator which usually sets the price of electricity at peak times.
Click to expand...
And what time does this off peak happen?
 
jonneymendoza said:
And what time does this off peak happen?
Click to expand...
Usually overnight, it’s always cheap between 23.30 to 05.30 but it can be at any time of the day if it’s windy or exceptionally sunny.

I just tell the supplier when I want the car charging by, they charge it for that time and I pay 7p for all electricity when it’s charging in 30 min blocks. If the car needs 8 hours to charge, I get 8 hours at 7p, they just pick the hours.

This only peaked to 9p in the absolute peak of the energy crisis.

If you can be flexible when you do your heavy usage, you can pay very little for your electricity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom