Yes, it’s beyond partisan politics. Both houses of congress are beyond corrupt. The R and the D stuff is Becoming less relevant.
Man, this economy
- Thread starter The Cooterpoot
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Mr Bad Hot Takes enters the chat.
Hell, the objective of tariffs is to make international goods more expensive so National goods have a competitive advantage. Or at least that is what I remember from Economics.
The problem is that if you don't produce whatever goods in your country then it just raises prices. We don't manufacture near as much now so all it does is raise prices because US companies are buying from outside the US and they have to pay the tariffs.
Not sure what moron thought that US companies would just not pass on that cost to consumers.
The problem is that if you don't produce whatever goods in your country then it just raises prices. We don't manufacture near as much now so all it does is raise prices because US companies are buying from outside the US and they have to pay the tariffs.
Not sure what moron thought that US companies would just not pass on that cost to consumers.
I'm so broke I'm seriously considering flying the family to Ireland to watch a classic MSU *** whipping on the gridiron**
I must live a insulated life. I never see all the doom and gloom in the economy . Been doing the same work for close to 40 years. Still live the same way, at the end of month after the bills are paid, i still have beer money, still put money in my 401k, still put money in my savings account , stick a little cash in my safe, still drive a good truck. I dont buy **** i dont need, never have, never will. The simple life is great.
Its still way more economical to DIY. And don't look now, but Amazon is uping its game on many auto parts, tools, and tires (especially if its on the front of the car and is plastic or rubber). Broke a return spigott on a PS reservoir for a 2006 vw bug yesterday. For a replacement O'Reillys wanted $103 (2-3 days), dealer wanted $151 (2 days) and amazon wanted $26.75. Got it overnight for no extra $ from amazon and its a dead nuts match to the oem (even looks like it came from the same oem mold). But yea, i have seen some crazy variation in pricess for parts lately, but dealers have lost there 17ing minds( I guess because they can).
Got me a used gauge cluster for my truck earlier this year off of Ebay for $80. Advance Auto wanted $550. Fit like a glove.
Go ahead and blame us for devolving into their BS talking points and not holding all of them accountable over the years…point the thumb!
Shrinkflation is apparently accounted for when inflation numbers are released.
If honey is a measured product and was 8fl oz for $7 and is now 7.2fl oz for $7, the missing .8fl oz is categorized as inflation.
Wild that inflation is only at what it's at, since it sure seems like cost has increased AND sizing has often decreased.
When it was high under Biden, it felt like the full picture wasn't captured too.
I've been pointing my fingers at Washington since Obama took office. I don't think I need to point out anybody in particular, as far as I'm concerned, they all are equal in blame. It only takes a simple majority to pass a bill.
To add to this, if something is produces domestically and the tariff increases the foreign product cost enough, the domestic producer can also then increase their price while coming in under the foreign producer.
The end result is both the foreign and domestic products cost more than before the tariff.
I’ve said it before but before Covid my price for a 40 gallon gas water heater went from 375 to 425. After Covid I’m now paying 800 out the door with the materials I need to install the same unit. They went up 15% in April so that price went up again during the spring. I want to point out that they used tariffs as the reason but these are made in America
Yeah we all knew pouring gubment money into the market wouldn’t cause any problems
I feel the same way although sometimes it’s because the components come from overseas. The water heater might be put together here but the parts come from other countries.
I just burned through my third mini-split in 11 years in my freestanding office. 240 sf. The things are brittle and don't last. Original Goodman cost $2k for an original installation, pipes, etc. It's more expensive as a process to replace--because you have to cut and weld pipes, etc.
If you spend up and get a Mitsubishi or Carrier, AC companies charge $3500+ to replace. An AC company I trust (who just did the house HVAC) told me it's because they have to honor Carrier's 10-year warranty, and they know splits after about five years cost them dearly in service calls. So they price punitively.
One random AC tech recommended I look into U-shaped inverter window units for my office. I ended up buying a GE Profile U-shaped inverter, only 10k BTU, for my office. It's worked like a charm and has a SEER rating almost as high as a split. Cost $459, and I didn't have to pay for an installation.
If I bought a cheap Chinese split off Amazon, it would be $700 or so and then I'd have to find some installer to replace everything for $800 or more in cash.
Replaced the house AC in January. The Biden EPA mandated moving from 410a to 454b, which added $2500+ on the top of everything else. I argued and worked through six different companies before one of them offered to source legacy 410a equipment--condenser was in San Marcos, and the evaporator (inside unit) was in Marble Falls. Still had to pay $14k. Sucked, but it's a Carrier.
And as I expected--Trump EPA repealed the switchover. 410a is actually still cheaper than 454b because they haven't scaled production for that refrigerant. Not to mention--454b is "mildly flammable," and evaporator coil leaks just happen over time.
When I last replaced the house HVAC in 2013, that Goodman 5-ton system was $5500.
Yeah, but they all leaned into the 454b. Now the requirement is repealed. I found a 410a system in parts through an AC company and saved a good bit in January.
The worst part is they still sell house HVAC R22 systems at 18+ SEER rating in Mexico, a couple hundred miles from my house. The US virtue signaling for climate issues only victimizes American consumers, especially when you consider that nobody else abides by these rules.
Easy now, a lot of people get real frustrated these days when you don’t join the world ending brigade. By no means have I lived a perfect life, but remember back in the 80s and 90s when people were handing out free advice like get a good education, save/invest your money, and don’t be a dumba$$ when it comes to marriage, kids, and extravagant things? Crazy how following that guidance has resulted in half decent lives for a lot of people from all walks of life.
I get it, and this isn’t aimed at the OP or anyone in this thread because there are a lot sky high expenses right now. But you know what else is way up? The market, housing and real estate for those that invested in it, 529s and 401ks, etc.
No, I can’t afford decked out Grand Wagoneer like the local soccer moms or a trip to Ireland right now, but I’m gonna enjoy the hell out of a few Sunday beers while watching golf by the pool. Especially knowing that football is a week away
Cuts have been pretty steady and ground beef has been going down the last 6 weeks roughly. It’s still not great but it’s down almost .80 a lb from the highs.
I can just about guarantee some combination of China, India, and Mexico
It raises prices period. It makes foreign goods more expensive so US firms don't have to cut prices to compete.
So I just went to the Kroger in Madison. Went in and paid 17 dollars for a package of chicken breasts etc etc . When I go back out to my truck a huge, new Kings Ranch SUV parked next to me . I don't have a clue what it cost but I took a second and just looked at the vehicles parked around me. Range Rovers, Mercedes, BMW's , Audi's, big decked out 4wd pickups and so on.......all new or relatively new. There had to be close to a million dollars worh of vehicles within 100 hundred feet of me. I couldn't help but smile and think about this thread as I drove of in my 2015 F150 and think 17 it.
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I still remember the feeling of buying my first new car back in ‘08. $34k, which was a fortune to me, for a pristine ‘09 pathfinder with leather interior and a Bose stereo. One of the best feelings in the world.
You know what felt even better, though? Paying that b*tch off 4 years later and not having to pay a car note since then. I still drive it
This. I use to work for a commercial HVAC company. I needed to replace my home unit and called around. I was able to by the unit for 2,900 and paid a tech $500to help me install in one Saturday morning. My local quotes for same unit installed $7,200, 7,900, and 8,350. Talked about a rip off.
LOL I backed out of my parking place like I was in a kindegarten playground so I wouldn't touch anything**
Shrinkflation is horrible. I'm not giving nearly as much d*ck as I did 20 years ago.
I have two of the LG dual inverter window units that have been going strong for six years now. Very quiet and efficient. Just clean condenser and evaporator every spring as usual. If the Midea U-shaped units had been out in full production I would have gone with them for the added noise reduction the closed window affords.
Chicken thighs and 85/15 that I have been buying weekly for over a year have stayed pretty steady. Honestly for me the price increases have been on the crap I don't need and the non-grocery household consumable
The insane used car prices starting after covid broke me of my "not buying new vehicles" rule. My retirement vehicle will be an older truck that I have done a frame off rebuild on. (if daddy gov't allows us to still own ICE vehicles in 8 years).
Pretty sure I know which moron.
2008 Forerunner with 318K miles2003 F150
No, a subtle brag would have been " I took her most recent Mercedes to the shop".
Agreed on chicken. MS catfish has been pretty steady. Seafood has been bad with new state laws & tariffs. Gotta disagree on beef but it’s probably a retail vs wholesale deal. I buy tens of thousands of lbs of 81/19 choice ground chuck a year and it has been all over the place. Just now getting back to keeping both kidney levels lol. A lil more relief is needed. I saw my local Kroger was over $7lb and bout fell over…
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