Such an ugly word, inflation. A donut is now $2. A bag of potato chips, $5. A box of cereal, $7. An aerosol can of paint stripper, $20. A pair of no-name jeans, $50. Decent shoes $150 (and they're made in China same as the $50 throwaway pair). A gallon of stain or varnish, $60. A non fast-food dinner for two with tip, $70. Oil change on the car, $120. A washer, dryer or refrigerator, $1100. Whew! I'm no ecomomist, but I can figure out that if I don't adjust my shop rates for this thing we call inflation I'll be giving my work away. Believe me, I don't like it any more than you do.