Cost of Living

[VidThreeNorth]

Apparently, because of the shut down of the US Gov., "cost of living" (COL) data is not currently being collected in the US. On the one hand, there is a close relation between COL data between nations, so you can look to Canadian and Mexican numbers, but we can accumulate data here. I'll post what numbers I have (mainly Toronto). If you want to post something, maybe we can build enough numbers that we can watch what is happening.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

Apparently, because of the shut down of the US Gov., "cost of living" (COL) data is not currently being collected in the US. On the one hand, there is a close relation between COL data between nations, so you can look to Canadian and Mexican numbers, but we can accumulate data here. I'll post what numbers I have (mainly Toronto). If you want to post something, maybe we can build enough numbers that we can watch what is happening.

Food Basics, Toronto, Jan 31, 2025 450g Kellogg's Mini-Wheats $3.99 (no tax) = $3.99.

 

[snowbear139 70]

Let's see how my conversions work:
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats, 16 ounce (about 453.5 grams) = 4.99 USD (6.99 CAD)

 

[snowbear139 70]

And live lobsters, 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.45 to 0.68 kg) 12.99 USD per pound (so about 18.00 CAD) each or 36.00 CAD per kilo. I love lobster but haven't bought it to cook for a few years. I'm not sure how good or bad this is.

Edit: OK, MD store carrying live lobster for 15.95 USD per pound (about 22.39 CAD), so a little cheaper here.

 

[AlanKlein105 21]

The US did issue the figures for September, although they were late about 1 1/2 weeks.
Economic News Release
CPI
PRINT:

Consumer Price Index Summary​

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until
8:30 a.m. (ET) Friday, October 24, 2025 USDL-25-1502

Contact information: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - SEPTEMBER 2025

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in
September, after rising 0.4 percent in August, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12
months, the all items index increased 3.0 percent before seasonal adjustment. Note that September CPI data collection
was completed before the lapse in appropriations.

The index for gasoline rose 4.1 percent in September and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase, as
the index for energy rose 1.5 percent over the month. The food index increased 0.2 percent over the month as the food
at home index rose 0.3 percent and the food away from home index increased 0.1 percent.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in September, after rising 0.3 percent in each of the 2
preceding months. Indexes that increased over the month include shelter, airline fares, recreation, household
furnishings and operations, and apparel. The indexes for motor vehicle insurance, used cars and trucks, and
communication were among the few major indexes that decreased in September.

The all items index rose 3.0 percent for the 12 months ending September, after rising 2.9 percent over the 12 months
ending August. The all items less food and energy index also rose 3.0 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index
increased 2.8 percent for the 12 months ending September. The food index increased 3.1 percent over the last year.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

The US did issue the figures for September, although they were late about 1 1/2 weeks.
Economic News Release
CPI
PRINT:

Consumer Price Index Summary​

Transmission of material in this release is embargoed until
8:30 a.m. (ET) Friday, October 24, 2025 USDL-25-1502

. . .

months, the all items index increased 3.0 percent before seasonal adjustment. Note that September CPI data collection
was completed before the lapse in appropriations.

Much thanks! Though it seems that the "next" report might be delayed We'll see. . . . .

 

[webestang6430 1]

I do not trust any "data" the US puts out right now. Cost of living (US) it way up and we all know why.

 

[snowbear139 70]

Agreed, but let's be careful with comments

 

[cgw140 165]

Agreed, but let's be careful with comments

Short-fuse issue. Maybe best avoided? Unless it pertains to pricing on the Fuji GFX100RF!

 

[snowbear139 70]

Initial question was fine as were responses. Some conversation was handled via messaging. Just need to keep an eye out.

 

[cgw140 165]

Initial question was fine as were responses. Some conversation was handled via messaging. Just need to keep an eye out.

Hellishly contentious issue. Surprising it had any legs at all...

 

[Rickbb84]

In my 72 years I've never seen the COL go down. Seen it go way, sometimes really quickly, but never down.

 

[VidThreeNorth]

In my 72 years I've never seen the COL go down. Seen it go way, sometimes really quickly, but never down.

I don't expect that any of us has actually watched the official COL pronouncements consistently in the past. For most of my life I've tended to keep track of specifics. I used to track the cost of running my car, and sometimes just gas prices. Even then I was more interested on the short term "where to fill-up?" than actually keeping track year over year. Food prices, similarly, I would know that one supermarket tended to have better prices than another. In the past, say, 40 years, I expect that the formal COL probably has gone down for a month here or there, but by the time a year goes by, it would have been lost in an annual measure. So I think we're all pretty much the same in that respect.

An example of the difficulty I grabbed a recent cash receipt from Walmart:

Nov 5, 2025, 500 gm shelled unsalted sunflower seeds $3.00, 500 gm, Thompson raisins $3.00 for 300 gm (no tax on either). The sunflower seeds weren't available before in this size package, so there's no way to compare it to past prices. The raisins? I think they were available, but I don't remember ever buying them in this specific package before. And no tax? I've been billed for foods with and without taxes. There are probably rules for what is taxable, but I don't know them. So did prices go up, down or stayed the same? I dunno. . . .