Ever wonder if it’s just your imagination — or are prices really going up? You’ll find the answers in some fascinating data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (yes, there really is such a thing). The data shows average prices for popular consumer items — everything from ground beef and coffee to gasoline and electricity. These figures are used to formulate the broader Consumer Price Index (CPI).
While you’re at it, you might be interested in seeing how much others in your age group and income level spend each year for things like gasoline and dining out. The tables on households with three people, four people, and five or more people will help you compare your family’s spending to households with similar income. You can even see how much inflation has changed your spending power over a specified period of year.
Click the links to the right for all the details.