Originally Posted By: 91344George
Originally Posted By: user52165
At least the quality keeps getting better. When you pay more for for junk........... that is a problem.
Maybe the quality of a FEW things has gone up a bit, but from what I have seen the quality of most things HAS DECREASED AND THE PRICE HAS GONE UP!
Do you need a new keyboard, George?
You seem to have intermittent sticking of the caps lock key.
The quality of many goods has improved, while the price in constant dollars hasn't increased.
A good example would be Korean and American cars.
Take the current Malibu, for example, compared to the 1980 model.
The current car retails for about the same money in constant dollars, yet is more refined, more economical, longer lasting, safer and more luxurious in every way.
For that matter, a new Accord LX costs only a couple of grand more at actual retail than our '99 did when we bought it new, so a new Accord LX is actually cheaper in constant dollar terms.
For the extra couple of grand in nominal dollars, you get a larger car that delivers better fuel economy, more room, much better acceleration, as well as an engine that requires no timing belt changes.
An improved product at a lower price in constant dollars.
There are other examples that might be noted.
Clothing prices at actual average retail are no higher today than they were thirty years ago in constant dollars, yet the quality of moderately priced clothing has improved considerably, although part of that has to do with the use of low wage labor, while another factor, equally important, is the much more competitive retail landscape.
Certain commodities, or those final goods that rely upon those commodities, have increased in realtive price and have increased in price in constant dollars.
Certainly meat, fish, poultry and fuel are more costly in constant dollars than they were thirty years ago, but that is a consequence of worldwide felt demand, as more people outside the old developed world have the means to use more fuel and to upgrade their diets.
