[GATORBILL66]

Trust me, the social security increases will fall far behind the inflation that this country has experienced over the last three and a half year.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by Rich42

Inflation has been raging beyond the typical norms for the last three years. It is significantly affecting virtually all Americans. While businesses need to increase prices to cover legitimate rising costs, too many are just taking advantage of the upward spiral in prices to gouge the consumer. I encountered the epitome of this trend in The Villages yesterday. I have patronized the “Village Car Wash” in the La Plaza Grande shopping center in Spanish Springs for over 10 years. Admittedly I had not been there in quite some time with covid and all, and the last time I was there was a couple of years ago. At that time the price of the cheapest basic car wash (they call it Bronze) was $14.95. Of interest, also note the prices of the various levels of service were prominently posted when you entered their property. To just digress for a moment, I pass their location several times a week and had been noticing the normal long waiting line of cars—regardless of time of year or time of day—has been absent. The place has always appeared to be a gold mine! Well, not so for the last few months. I don’t know exactly when they raised their prices, but the basic Bronze wash (again the cheapest option) was $34! I only found this out when I went inside to pay because their prices were no longer publicly posted. That is an increase from the relatively recent price of 127%!!! No way have their costs gone up anywhere near that. I now understand why there are no longer any lines of people waiting to get their cars washed, and I will certainly no longer be a customer. That is pure greed that should not be supported by the community.

With the way things are probably headed in this economy right now, the best thing to do is get a bucket and a sponge and put that $34 into a money market account.

[Wondering]

Originally Posted by Rich42

Inflation has been raging beyond the typical norms for the last three years. It is significantly affecting virtually all Americans. While businesses need to increase prices to cover legitimate rising costs, too many are just taking advantage of the upward spiral in prices to gouge the consumer. I encountered the epitome of this trend in The Villages yesterday. I have patronized the “Village Car Wash” in the La Plaza Grande shopping center in Spanish Springs for over 10 years. Admittedly I had not been there in quite some time with covid and all, and the last time I was there was a couple of years ago. At that time the price of the cheapest basic car wash (they call it Bronze) was $14.95. Of interest, also note the prices of the various levels of service were prominently posted when you entered their property. To just digress for a moment, I pass their location several times a week and had been noticing the normal long waiting line of cars—regardless of time of year or time of day—has been absent. The place has always appeared to be a gold mine! Well, not so for the last few months. I don’t know exactly when they raised their prices, but the basic Bronze wash (again the cheapest option) was $34! I only found this out when I went inside to pay because their prices were no longer publicly posted. That is an increase from the relatively recent price of 127%!!! No way have their costs gone up anywhere near that. I now understand why there are no longer any lines of people waiting to get their cars washed, and I will certainly no longer be a customer. That is pure greed that should not be supported by the community.

Thanks for your experience and observation at the car wash. your generalization about high inflation is not correct. Your observations and experience at some companies price gouging their products is accurate. There are record profits for oil companies and various other product producers. An example of low inflation from my personal experience is this one. Sixteen years ago I bought a French door LG, bottom 25 cu.ft refrigerator at Best Buy (Black, which was cheaper than stainless steel) for just under $1400. I just bought an LG 29 cu.ft. stainless French door from Lowe's for $1300, which included a five year extended warranty. Hard to believe but true. Actually, Black was $1000 more because it is now a special order. Inflation is not high, it's corporate gouging because of the pandemic.

[JRcorvette]

Originally Posted by Rich42

Inflation has been raging beyond the typical norms for the last three years. It is significantly affecting virtually all Americans. While businesses need to increase prices to cover legitimate rising costs, too many are just taking advantage of the upward spiral in prices to gouge the consumer. I encountered the epitome of this trend in The Villages yesterday. I have patronized the “Village Car Wash” in the La Plaza Grande shopping center in Spanish Springs for over 10 years. Admittedly I had not been there in quite some time with covid and all, and the last time I was there was a couple of years ago. At that time the price of the cheapest basic car wash (they call it Bronze) was $14.95. Of interest, also note the prices of the various levels of service were prominently posted when you entered their property. To just digress for a moment, I pass their location several times a week and had been noticing the normal long waiting line of cars—regardless of time of year or time of day—has been absent. The place has always appeared to be a gold mine! Well, not so for the last few months. I don’t know exactly when they raised their prices, but the basic Bronze wash (again the cheapest option) was $34! I only found this out when I went inside to pay because their prices were no longer publicly posted. That is an increase from the relatively recent price of 127%!!! No way have their costs gone up anywhere near that. I now understand why there are no longer any lines of people waiting to get their cars washed, and I will certainly no longer be a customer. That is pure greed that should not be supported by the community.

Inflation is Real and so is price gouging! If you want to keep your car looking great and not have to wash it very often then get a Professional Ceramic Coating applied. It’s not cheap but it is a good investment if you plan on keeping your car for a while.

[Pgcacace]

We go to Big Dan’s on 441, a block north of 466. If you subscribe, it is about $18/month with unlimited visits.

[Pennyt]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

In 2009, the minimum wage was $7.25. Effective Sept 2022 it was $11.00, on the way to $15.00 in a few years. That's a 110% increase.

When payroll increases, payroll taxes (FICA) also increase, workers comp insurance increases. I expect health insurance costs have increased.

Property taxes have increased. I believe the cost of water and supplies has also gone up.

A lot has happened in the four or more years since you have been there. I do not attribute the price increase to greed. I attribute it to a poorly managed economy.

This is the same reason why there are fewer ambassadors on the golf courses and fewer workers at the fast food places.

No, I do not think it is greed.

It's not minimum wage and taxes. Have you seen the difference in what CEOs are paid vs the workers in a company? "The median CEO in the S&P 500 was paid 196 times as much as the median employee in 2023, according to an analysis by Equilar and The Associated Press. That’s up from a ratio of 185 in 2022. The widening divide is driven by the fact that CEO pay — which is closely tied to share prices — is rising notably faster than that of employees." (compensationresources.com)

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by Pennyt

It's not minimum wage and taxes. Have you seen the difference in what CEOs are paid vs the workers in a company? "The median CEO in the S&P 500 was paid 196 times as much as the median employee in 2023, according to an analysis by Equilar and The Associated Press. That’s up from a ratio of 185 in 2022. The widening divide is driven by the fact that CEO pay — which is closely tied to share prices — is rising notably faster than that of employees." (compensationresources.com)

Now you are making cents.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Pennyt

It's not minimum wage and taxes. Have you seen the difference in what CEOs are paid vs the workers in a company? "The median CEO in the S&P 500 was paid 196 times as much as the median employee in 2023, according to an analysis by Equilar and The Associated Press. That’s up from a ratio of 185 in 2022. The widening divide is driven by the fact that CEO pay — which is closely tied to share prices — is rising notably faster than that of employees." (compensationresources.com)

And that worker is responsible for doing his one little job, while the CEO is responsible for tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars. Yeah, sure, there shouldn't be a disparity in pay

[Normal]

Groceries are going through the roof. Items that every American citizen needs to have to survive.

Listen, the farming tractors and semi deliveries don’t run on chicken poo.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Normal

I carried our groceries the other day from Public’s in one hand in one plastic bag. The bill was 97 dollars. I jokingly told my wife I never thought I could single handedly carry a hundred bucks worth of groceries like that. Kind of scary when you think about it.

You pay for convenience at Publix. Some times not worth trouble to drive to Walmart. Then there ones that refuse to shop at Walmart. Good less people in my road…

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Normal

Groceries are going through the roof. Items that every American citizen needs to have to survive.

Listen, the farming tractors and semi deliveries don’t run on chicken poo.

Or free electricity…

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Pennyt

It's not minimum wage and taxes. Have you seen the difference in what CEOs are paid vs the workers in a company? "The median CEO in the S&P 500 was paid 196 times as much as the median employee in 2023, according to an analysis by Equilar and The Associated Press. That’s up from a ratio of 185 in 2022. The widening divide is driven by the fact that CEO pay — which is closely tied to share prices — is rising notably faster than that of employees." (compensationresources.com)

Life has never been equal. And it never will.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Shish

It's leveled off at an unsustainable high rate. It needs to be under 2%/year, like it had been previously before all the government spending kicked in. The dollar is now worth only 80 cents over the last 3 years. Those on fixed income (pensions) really have got hurt.
Look at this chart.
Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2024

I question the dollar worth only 80 cents. IMO that seems way to high? More like 60 cent?

[Robbb]

Originally Posted by Philipd411

So why did they just become greedy? According to your train of thought, they could have raised their prices years ago to $34 and been greedy back then. Their cost has gone up, less people are shopping there. It not greed but business.

Respectfully disagree. I think inflation has given many businesses "permission" to raise prices to whatever they think they can "get away" with, regardless how their costs have increased.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

I question the dollar worth only 80 cents. IMO that seems way to high? More like 60 cent?

Goods have gone up 20% over the last 3 years.