Reply #19: It is called 'creeping inflation'.

[lumpy]

I certainly have noticed inflation. Been grocery shopping for many years; I use this as the index for inflated prices and, believe me, every year the price of a can of green beans goes up. Medical expenses continue to rise, insurance premiums, essential services up up and away. Ridiculous to use the price of gas as an index. Much political attention is paid to the price of gas and oil because it affects commerce in all phases and the public respounds negatively. The government is working their asses off as we speak to get OPEC to lower their crude, they don't give a rat's behind about inflated food prices or any other living essentials. Milk prices in some areas have doubled in the past year. In the last 5 years a visit to the doctor has nore than doubled; this has nothing to do with the price of gasoline. Does anyone care ? Hell no.