Southern California loop - August 2023

[Southwest Dave]

Sounds like you all enjoyed it !

When did the US get so expensive though? Wow! All budgets were completely blown...

I'm not sure if inflation is much different to here in the UK or elsewhere for that matter, I think the real kicker is the exchange rate now. We enjoyed it when a UK Pound would get us almost 2 USD, now it's more like 1.25 USD.

Dave

[DonnaR57]

We have had runaway inflation here in the USA for the past 2 years. It started with the fuel price, which of course affects all the prices of goods since we rely on trucks to bring us goods.

It's highly political, so I will not go any further into the reasons why.


Donna

[Mark Sedenquist]

We have had runaway inflation here in the USA for the past 2 years.

Americans traditionally have short memories when it comes to economic trends. The inflation we've seen over the last couple of years has been minuscule compared to past periods. The rates we dealt with in the mid-1970's put the rates we've seen in the last couple of years in appropriate perspective. No one has seen "runaway" inflation in the USA in a couple of decades. And in other countries -- Venezula comes to mind, their true runaway inflation is approaching 9600%. I think the current inflation rate for the USA is 2.7%

This web page shows the inflation rates in the USA from 1929 to 2023 to gain a perspective on what's going on with the inflation here in this country. (I haven't checked the arithmetic-- but it seems reasonable)

And to keep things in perspective about other countries that really seem to be having "runaway inflation rates" as tracked by worldpopulationreview.com:

Venezuela: 9586% 🇻🇪
Zimbabwe: 676% 🇿🇼
Sudan: 71.4% 🇸🇩
Argentina: 46.9% 🇦🇷
South Sudan: 36.4% 🇸🇸
Liberia: 30.55% 🇱🇷
Ethiopia: 22.6% 🇪🇹
Iran: 22% 🇮🇷

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

Oh I get that Donna but inflation here has been higher overall I believe. If my sums are correct a US gallon would cost you around $7.2 right now. Our domestic fuel (gas and electric) has rocketed in price and like you say, that leads to everything going up.

I think the current inflation rate for the USA is 2.7%

Confirmation. Here in the UK it has dropped to 6.8% after reaching double digits earlier in the year.

Dave.

[Mark Sedenquist]

If my sums are correct a US gallon would cost you around $7.2 right now.

Dave, gas prices in Las Vegas today are about $4.45 per gallon. (Oh, I see you meant in the UK?)

For the most part, the US economy has kept price increases much lower than just about anywhere else on the planet.

Any price increase in fuel, food, housing, etc. causes stress and concerns, but the economy is still plugging along and the long-thought-to-arrive recession hasn't really happened here yet. Our RTA business plans for 2023-2024 include calcs for such a recession--but the data is still a bit murky.

Mark

[Southwest Dave]

If my sums are correct a US gallon would cost you around $7.2 right now.

Dave, gas prices in Las Vegas today are about $4.45 per gallon.

My bad. I should have finished the above sentence with "$7.2 right now here in the UK"

Dave

[Mark Sedenquist]

You can use the RTA Fuel Cost Calculator and check your numbers!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Hopefully, we'll see some more photos from UKCraig's trip.

Bodie after the storm comes to mind!

[UKCraig]

Dave, gas prices in Las Vegas today are about $4.45 per gallon.

Maybe this is more a California problem than a US problem to be fair. I have thrown out all the receipts now but from memory regular was around the mid 5s with some maxing out at a shade over 6 in the sticks. Everything else followed suit with food being insane (one eggs/sausage and three pancakes at a Dennys (!!!) coming out at around $110 before the tax and tips!) Even a depressing shrink wrapped ham sandwich in Walmart was just shy of $6 on its own.

[glc]

(one eggs/sausage and three pancakes at a Dennys (!!!) coming out at around $110 before the tax and tips!)

I hope you meant $11!

"Low-price" hotel rooms are now pushing $100.