Are inflation figures being massaged?

[lornemalvo]

Am I the only one who thinks that the official inflation figures are nowhere near the reality? I tried to look into this a little and thought the shopping basket used to calculate the Consumer Price Index is constant, but was a bit surprised to find that the contents of the basket change annually, supposedly to reflect current buying habits. Items removed include men's' suits, doughnuts and coal. Items added include sports bras and meat free sausages.
In our experience, almost everything has increase well beyond 10%. and many things, including many food items have almost doubled. This is confirmed by our overall weekly shopping costs, as well as spotting big prices increases on individual items. I won't even go into the increases in petrol/diesel and heating bills. I speak to many people who feel the same way. Are we being hoodwinked or is it just perception?

Edited by lornemalvo on Wednesday 31st August 19:21

[grumbledoak]

It's a load of old pony.

Forget the basket of stuff you can't eat rubbish - if this meant anything they could not have switched from RPI to CPI just because it suited their purposes.

[rover 623gsi]

just popped up to my Sainsbury's Local to buy some - 4pts £1.65 WTF? It was £1 for ages then recently it's been creeping up but that's ridiculous!

Edited by rover 623gsi on Wednesday 31st August 20:29

[glazbagun]

The ONS have an experimental inflation calculator so you can work out your own rate. Mine was 7% at my old job in July, with transport being the biggest contribution but now I've moved I expect it will change.

I'll see if I can find it.

[MitchT]

In my world inflation has been around 10% for the last two decades.

[Cuoco]

Yes, official inflation figures are BS.

Check out http://www.shadowstats.com/alternate_data/inflatio... which gives you data calculated on the older 1980 and 1990's method for comparison. Yes it's US based, but I don't think our lot are any different.

[finlo]

I'm pretty sure it's a monthly figure not an annual one!

[ChocolateFrog]

In terms of food not only are prices rising but offers have virtually disappeared.

I'm very much an end of the isle man so this has hit me.

[leef44]

lornemalvo said:

Am I the only one who thinks that the official inflation figures are nowhere near the reality? I tried to look into this a little and thought the shopping basket used to calculate the Consumer Price Index is constant, but was a bit surprised to find that the contents of the basket change annually, supposedly to reflect current buying habits. Items removed include men's' suits, doughnuts and coal. Items added include sports bras and meat free sausages.
In our experience, almost everything has increase well beyond 10%. and many things, including many food items have almost doubled. This is confirmed by our overall weekly shopping costs, as well as spotting big prices increases on individual items. I won't even go into the increases in petrol/diesel and heating bills. I speak to many people who feel the same way. Are we being hoodwinked or is it just perception?

Edited by lornemalvo on Wednesday 31st August 19:21

If something inflates too high then less people buy it and thus it drops out the basket. This then naturally keeps the "inflation" down.

[glazbagun]

Here you go, have a stab at this if you're bored. From August:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpricein...

Basically weighs inflation according to your outgoings.

ChocolateFrog said:

In terms of food not only are prices rising but offers have virtually disappeared.

I'm very much an end of the isle man so this has hit me.

I've just moved so rebuying odds and ends 'til I can get a proper ship done. Snacks have definitely gone up, as has eating out.

Edited by glazbagun on Wednesday 31st August 21:44

[Mojooo]

A lot of food has gone up way more than 10 or even 20 %

[dmahon]

Every time I leave the house I seem to be spending £100 lately! Pretty much everything I buy from a coffee upwards is making me wince at the till. I have never been like it before, but really questioning the value of a lot of things I buy nowadays.

Agree food in particular. I’m even considering taking a flask and sandwiches when I go out because it feels like you are getting absolutely gouged wherever you go!

[bloomen]

The inflation figure was laughable for years even when it was 'officially' near their desired percentage.

Now I doubt even They have a clue what it actually is.

When it comes to food at least many of my regulars are 25% more than they were a short while ago and sometimes considerably more.

[anonymous-user]

ChocolateFrog said:

In terms of food not only are prices rising but offers have virtually disappeared.

I'm very much an end of the isle man so this has hit me.

Swim for it!