But here I am, paying almost twice as much for a gallon of milk this year as I did last year, not to mention all other food groups. And of course, I'm paying a large chunk of my income (debt) for the damn gasoline I put in my car, not to mention subway fares, despite the claims that energy prices have relaxed. What gives?!!

No doubt, the mainstream media often LIES. I could go over examples ad nauseum. But more often than not, they merely massage the truth. Apparently, this is why those SOBs have been singing songs of victory over inflation:

Recent inflation data shows wholesale prices, excluding food and energy costs, have risen at a mere 2.6 percent for the last 12 months, while core consumer prices, which also exclude such volatile components, rose only 2.1 percent over the same period.

What on earth is left of "core consumer prices" after you've "excluded food and energy costs?!!" This sounds more like an inflation index for investors not consumers!

All this says is that within the group of products where consumer demand is elastic, prices are fairly stable. You're damn right they are! Consumers would stop buying in a heartbeat if they weren't! But, for goods that consumers have no choice but to buy, consumers are being screwed, royally!

In all fairness, I have to give credit to the author of this particular AP report, first for revealing the massaging technique her cohorts use to mask the truth. But also, for mentioning that bloggers like Jeff Matthews, who insists that his haircuts have gone from $17 to $22, are exposing the lies as they're told.

Caught again, lousy liars! If you're going to lie about something, pick a subject that's not as obvious as this. After all, we are the consumers!