11 posts tagged “consumer prices”
New labels listing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production of foods, from whole wheat pasta to fast food burgers, are appearing on some grocery items and restaurant menus around Sweden. The same concept is being proposed across the EU.
Besides causing massive consumer confusion, the emissions impact of, say, a carrot, can vary by a factor of 10, depending how and where it is grown. Who is going to determine and regulate this? Will small farms & cattle ranchers be exempt? Will this lead to even more consolidation in the food industry?
All one can say at this point is the cost of producing food will be going up and producers will try to pass on that cost to consumers. I encourage my readers to grow their own food. Then take steps to learn how to can, freeze, and dehydrate that food. Even apartment dwellers can do simple gardens with the Topsy Turvy and Chia Herb Gardens
Let me start out by saying that inflation due to the FED printing money has not begun. What inflation we have right now is cost push.
Here is some anecdotal evidence from my life. The last time I orderer a large sausage pizza it was $17.75 (up from $16.50 six months ago). Last week my favorite gyro meal cost $5.95 (up from $5.25 the last time I had one). A ride on the Chicago subway went from $2.00 to $2.25, and now they want to raise fares to $3.00.
Now take a look at empirical evidence from Shadow Government Statistics. It clearly shows we never had any deflation.
- Miminmum wage is now $7.25
- Health Insurance
- Property and Casualty Insurance
- Government fees such as inspection and licensing
- Credit card processing fees and bank fess have increased for business owners
- Transportation - look at the move in oil since March 2009
- Agricultural commodities (which are inputs to cows, pigs, and chickens)
The podcast below helps explain my business model. I think my model takes the high ground, I give you 90% of everything for free.
I keep my blog ad free (those Google ads at the bottom keep VOX hosting free for me). My sidebar simply has referral links for you to join programs that I have already joined and are making money at. And finally I have created downloadable seminars so that you can get the other 10% I do not reveal on this blog. These include the scientific method of buying and selling stocks and the 3 fat frugal techniques guaranteed to save you thousands of $$$.
Thanks to the folks over at Frugal Yankee for this podcast.
| State | Date | State Tax Suspended* | What’s Affected** |
|---|---|---|---|
| * State tax only. Local taxes may or may not be waived, depending on location. ** Cost per item, unless otherwise noted. | |||
| Alabama | Aug. 7-9 | 4% | Books worth $30 or less. School and art supplies worth $50 or less. Clothing worth $100 or less. A single purchase of a computer, software and/or computer accessories worth a combined value of $750 or less. |
| Connecticut | Aug. 16-22 | 6% | Clothing and footwear worth $300 or less. |
| Georgia | July 30 - Aug. 2 | 4% | School supplies worth $20 or less. Clothing and footwear worth $100 or less. A single purchase of a computer, software and/or computer accessories worth a combined value of $1,500 or less. |
| Iowa | Aug. 7-8 | 6% | Clothing worth $100 or less. |
| Louisiana | Aug. 7-8 | 4% | All "tangible personal property” worth $2,500 or less, except vehicles, meals and services. (For more details, click here.) |
| Mississippi | July 31 - Aug. 1 | 7% | Clothing and footwear worth $100 or less. |
| Missouri | Aug. 7-9 | 4.225% | School supplies worth $50 or less. Clothing worth $100 or less. Computer software worth $350 or less. Computers and computer accessories worth $3,500 or less. |
| New Mexico | Aug. 7-9 | 5% | School supplies worth $15 or less. Clothing worth $100 or less. Computer accessories worth $500 or less. Computers worth $1,000 or less. |
| North Carolina | Aug. 7-9 | 4.5% | Sports and recreational equipment worth $50 or less. Clothing and school supplies worth $100 or less. Computer accessories worth $250 or less. Computers worth $3,500 or less. |
| Oklahoma | Aug. 7-9 | 4.5% | Clothing and footwear worth $100 or less. |
| South Carolina | Aug. 7-9 | 6% | Purchases of any price in specific categories, including clothing, footwear, school supplies, computers, software, computer accessories, bed linens, bath towels and pillows, among other items. (For a full list, click here.) |
| Tennessee | Aug. 7-9 | 7% | Clothing and school supplies worth $100 or less. Computers worth $1,500 or less. |
| Texas | Aug. 21-23 | 6.25% | Clothing, footwear and backpacks worth $100 or less. |
| Vermont | Aug. 22 | 6% | All “tangible personal property” worth $2,000 or less, except vehicles, meals and services. (For more details, click here.) |
| Virginia | Aug. 7-9 | 4% | School supplies worth $20 or less. Clothing worth $100 or less. |
| West Virginia | Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 | 6% | Energy Star products worth $5,000 or less. |
Carmen Wong Ulrich has her own show on CNBC. She also has been gracious enough to produce PDF style worksheets to help you with your finances. She also has an RSS feed if you can't catch the show.
I can't vouch for the workbooks since I prefer online interactive calculators from these sites:
http://www.dinkytown.net/
http://www.choosetosave.org/calculators/
Callers into her show have had positive remarks about the workbooks..
