Paychecks Can't Keep Up With Rising Prices

[upstatecajun]

Anyone who has filled a gas tank or shopped for ground beef recently knows that prices are headed higher.

But while many retail prices may be moving up, workers' wages are remaining flat. The mismatch between rising prices and stagnant wages is putting a squeeze on workers this year.

On one side of the misery equation, Americans have been seeing retail prices rise at an annualized rate of more than a 5.6 percent so far this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Plus, the upward pressure on prices is growing as crude oil prices keep heading higher. U.S. crude oil has been trading at more than $110 a barrel, sending the average price of a gallon of gasoline up to $3.74 a gallon — compared with $2.86 a year ago, according to AAA, the auto club.

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/10/135272006/paychecks-cant-keep-up-with-rising-prices






http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Liberal-Ohioan/195130570504421

[William769]

1. You think thats bad

Try being on Social Security Disability right now.

Oh wait, COLA says I'm fine, my bad.

[DJ13]

2. Same here

It gets harder and harder to afford even the basics with the inflation we have.

[William769]

3. This may not sound like much but

I live in Florida and we have been having 90 degree weather, due to my health I need air conditioning, I can't turn it on I can't afford it! Well I could if I didn't eat or buy medicine.

[Donnachaidh]

5. I so hear ya on this one

We're in Georgia and last summer we had triple digit electric bills, due to a/c. I too need the air, but I'm really frightened of the potential bills this year. Many of the groups that were out there to help with out of control utility bills are really getting stretched, trying to help everyone in need.

[RebelOne]

13. I'm in Georgia, too, but my heating bills this

year were much higher than the air-conditioning bills last summer. I think at this point it is cheaper to stay cool than to stay warm.

[kestrel91316]

4. I can't afford to replace my stolen car. On the up side, I don't have to

worry about the rising price of gas......

[Lugnut]

7. Bingo!

There's too much month left at the end of my SSDI pittance.

[InkAddict]

6. What paycheck? eom

[Initech]

8. I'm barely able to keep up with the gas prices.

I'm a courier and I drive everywhere (tomorrow I have to drive nearly 100 miles in opposite directions) and I'm at the point where I'm looking at the most fuel-efficient vehicle I can possibly get to help curb costs. I'm debating between the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Audi A3 TDI and the Chevy Volt although I'm not sure the Volt will meet the monthly payment I'm hoping to get.

[Terra Alta]

9. I got a 40 cent raise last month

But with the price of gas, groceries, etc going up I can't even see a difference. I get a raise every year, but I hate to think of how people who never get raises and are stuck on minimum wage handle it... how do they make a living? How can you make a living? I mean, really.

[Initech]

10. I haven't had a raise in years.

That's why whenever I see these fucking CEO leeches getting 90% pay raises and six and seven figure bonuses, it really makes my blood boil.

[Terra Alta]

12. Agreed.

I work for Wal-mart, and it really angers me how the Waltons can make billions a year while many of their employees are on food stamps.

[Initech]

15. It's disgusting, isn't it?

I really wonder when we're finally gonna snap and rise up against the Wall St. corporate criminals. I want it to happen sooner than later.

[roamer65]

14. ... keep in mind this is the master plan.

They are going to destroy the middle class through currency debasement.

They are going to slowly turn up the heat on the frog in the pot.

They are going turn the USA into Mexico.

[roamer65]

11. We haven't seen anything yet.

This is all a result of the massive debt monetization by the Federal Reserve. Since there is no political will in DC to raise taxes to pay for 3 wars and everything else, the Fed is creating money to do the job. Add in the currency war with the Japanese and it is a recipe for disaster.

If we are LUCKY, it will only be like the 1970's...but I don't think we will be that lucky.

[HughBeaumont]

16. I think it should be changed to "haven't kept up with" . . . and add "for 3 decades".

Don't know why people thought this great version of "leave the rich alone!!" corporate capitalism that sees wages in real dollars being suppressed for thirty years straight (while incomes on the rich shot through the stratosphere) could have ended up any different. If people can't buy anything, you got no business. Not a real hard concept, yet no one seems to get it.

Instead we want to believe in fairy tale horseshit like "Trickle Down", "Deregulation", "Rising Tide Lifts all Boats", "Job Offshoring is a Win-Win for America". "Unions are Your Enemy" and my personal favorite: "You can't Strengthen the Weak by Weakening the Strong".

Yeah. How's that whole "Strengthening the Strong" thing working out for American employment, working/middle/poor Repub voters?

[CBHagman]

17. I think it started some years back.

Aside from the fluctuations in the fuel prices, there have been steep increases in rents and home prices. And don't get me started on food -- price goes up, size of package goes down.

[taught_me_patience]

18. Were are the DUers who were hoping for inflation six months ago?

they've gotten very quiet.