I love looking at long-term trend charts. In our less than 24 hour news cycle, we often lose sight of the actual arc of history. This is especially true in an election year when pol-idiots in the media broadcast nothing but doom and gloom.

This chart is very interesting …

… it simply shows what has gotten more expensive of more affordable relative to everything else. The CPI for all items is included just above +50%, as is Average Hourly Earnings at 75%.

Not surprisingly, electronic stuff is at the bottom as it has gotten better & cheaper at the same time. Daily expenses such as housing, furnishings, food, cars, and apparel have also grown slower than earnings.

Healthcare & education have broadly gotten much more expensive. It’s no surprise that politicians debate these issues the most, despite both parties unable to bend the trend over two decades. Hopefully we are getting better care and better education as a result, but I will let someone else judge that.

Have a great weekend!