Such an ugly word, "inflation". A donut is now $4. A bag of potato chips, $5. A box of cereal, $8. An aerosol can of paint stripper, $20. A pair of no-name jeans, $60. Actual good ones, $100. 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, $60-70, and fast food is no longer cheap. A washer, dryer or refrigerator, wow. Just, wow. The refrigerator? $1100 for a throwaway one, $4000 for one that will last more than a year but less than five. Doubtless we'll all be renting these things soon as no one will be able to afford an appliance that cost more than their first car. A nice button-down shirt, $80. A visit to the ER, $10,000 if not for insurance. And 1970s factory Honda float valves? $300+ for four. Whew! (The only thing that hasn't gone up is the cost of an iPad. Must be at least partly why I've owned six of the things.) Neither a history buff nor an economist, it's amazing to watch this happening. And it means my rates for carb work have to steadily increase. Just the way it is. Believe me, I don't like this any more than you do.