[howmayiannoyyou]

Yes, purchasing power of USD declines with inflation.

No, that doesn't mean over a long enough time horizon what most people think it means.

USD has declined significantly since 2017 (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SA0R), but what it buys has substantively changed.

- You couldn't buy continous glucose monitors, OTC hearing aids, home heart monitors using your cellphone or watch or countless medications that didn't exist in 2017 (eg. Journavx, the first non-opiod pain med, smart insulin pens, etc.).

- You couldn't buy noise-cancelling earbuds, generative AI, somewhat affordable electric vehicles, PT and medical advice from Youtube/AI, self driving vehicles, more reliable electricity from grid-scale store, Satellite rescue from your cellphone, etc.

The retort will be daily items are about 30% more expensive since Covid. This is the result of Federal and State policies that have little to do with the White House and everything to do with Congress and State Houses. As just one example... ask yourself why so much ag is grown in Western states with water shortages and so far from the rest of the country?

[SubiculumCode]

California has 4 seasons of growing weather, good soil, and conditions that help against rot. The lack of water is exactly why it's good for growing stuff, if you can get the water. Excess water ruins crops all the time.

[adjejmxbdjdn]

This comment that seems determined to state its conclusion without providing any evidence other than “why is so much agriculture in parts of the country that are conducive to agriculture”.

[sunir]

It says exactly what it says, which is that energy prices are higher. You can read the report.

[post-it]

> ask yourself why so much ag is grown in Western states with water shortages and so far from the rest of the country?

Because water is one of the cheapest inputs into agriculture. Growing almonds in California is a ~bad idea, but it's not a stupid idea.