[logicalmonster]

IMO, atlasunshrugged gave a comment that mentioned a couple of important variables to consider.

Personally, I'd also mention the monetary policy factor. There's a huge problem of perspective when it comes to what prices are and what happens in inflation. You have to consider if prices are actually rising, or is the currency being reduced in value a lot? (Personally I think real inflation rates being under 10% is fiction and inflation is a lot worse than we're told)

Fuel prices are just significantly more visible to people than many other prices because gas station charges are so visible and one of the few purchases that is hard to avoid if you live in America outside of a dense city.