[EternalData]

I don't buy fuel (don't use a car) and aside from the rates set by the electricity provider (essentially a monopoly provider in California) and public transit provider (a city monopoly), fuel costs don't affect me and I actually choose to spend a higher amount with discretion since I moved to the Solar Choice program.

Food is such a small part of my discretionary spend (I buy grains in bulk, specifically quinoa, and greens from the farmer's mart).

Looking back at my spend, the majority of it is in technology that is undergoing massive deflation, or my pet hobby of collecting rare books (neither of which is accounted for in the basket).

I am probably an edge case, but the point remains -- the basket that is set seems outdated. I can't imagine that people are spending as much on food as you think. ex: "USDA data shows that in 2010 Americans spent 9.4 percent of their disposable income on food"