The Cost Of Living, Forever Up In Seattle
I couldn't put it off any longer so on Saturday I bought four new tires. My last set did me well for a good number of years, so the replacements I chose were exactly the same.
Eleven Hundred Dollars.
I must admit that I almost had a heart attack right there in the Les Schwab store. I remember, not too long ago, when a great tire could be had for about a hundred bucks. Not so anymore.
It seems that prices are rising dramatically, while at the same time the things I read point to average wages falling. It's a bad situation, and I fear that with all the spending lunacy in Washington D.C. higher pricing is likely to continue.
Let us hope that the economy continues to improve, and that the pace of improvement quickens. In the meantime, I must say, in comparison with the price of tires anyway, professional domination seems like a bargain!
Comments
Milliscent-
So true. Thanks to easy money and Helicopter Ben's zero interest rate policy, commodities seem fated to continue to rise, as will products made thereof, e.g., your tires.
You probably saw, as did I, the most recent monthly BLS numbers which reported stagnant average wages.
The only silver lining about liberal democratic excesses and spending profligacy is that it will be naturally self-correcting.
We might not like the manner in which it corrects, i.e., global loss of confidence in the US dollar and its obligations.
But that will put an end to the inability of most politicians of both parties to pretend ignorance of the economic facts which will drive that occurrence, should it, well, occur.
Markets have a way of enforcing needed discipline, rather like a good Dominatrix, whether those who suffer it want or expect it, or not.
-saratoga
Posted by: saratoga | April 11, 2011 6:31 AM
Please don't re-tire, milady.
Posted by: s.m. | April 11, 2011 3:25 PM
I fear it will only get worse and any recovery we may be experiencing will vanish as inflation soars. We have a Pres who is happy gasoline prices are soaring. He wants to force us all to drive electric cars...great....what happens to the toxic batteries? What happens to an electric grid that can barely support our demands now? We elected a Marxist and this is our pennance.
Posted by: bdenied | April 17, 2011 6:17 AM
saratoga,
Indeed you are right, the political class can ignore the market, but it does not care and will punish them as need be.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | April 17, 2011 11:43 AM
sm,
Worry not, I've no plans to retire. As for my next re-tire, I figure I've got another 50K miles now!
M
Posted by: Milliscent | April 17, 2011 11:44 AM
bdenied,
Without a doubt, we are surrounded by lunatics when it comes to electricity.
Here in Washington State, the vast majority of our electricity comes from hydro-power.
Even though the rivers never stop running, the environmental wackos have managed to get the law to claim that hydro is a 'non-renewable' energy source, and now they push to have the dams removed.
Making it worse though, 10% of our electricity comes from one coal plant in Western Washington. They are forcing that plant to close in about 15 years.
So, we have an expanding population that will require more electricity and we have electric cars coming online that will require more electricity, and we are forcing the loss of 10% of our electricity, and they are working towards doing away with the dams.
I've gotta wonder if these people have any idea where exactly electricity comes from? Unfortunately, the majority don't seem to know, or to care.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | April 17, 2011 11:50 AM