Comments for Visualizing Inflation As A Pile Of Mold

Visualizing Inflation As A Pile Of Mold

2008-05-09T23:23:11Z

The NYT has a cool graphic up that shows all the parts of the Consumer Price Index and uses a color scheme to show how much they've gone up by in the past year. Go to the version on their site so you can zoom in closer on all the cells. It looks like a horribly growing fungus inside a petri dish, which I guess is not far from the truth.

All of Inflation�s Little Parts [NYT] (Thanks to Natan!)

Comment from humphrmi on 2008-05-11

2008-05-11T05:04:21Z

@Lucky225: Currency policy is reflected in all of the items in that chart. For instance, when the Fed lowers interest rates, the dollar loses it's value and foreign companies (like oil producers) have to raise their prices to maintain the same level of profit before the rate cut. Same thing if the Fed injects more money into the economy.

Comment from AnneJ on 2008-05-10

2008-05-10T23:18:40Z

Fascinating! Especially since you can scroll over each section and get even more data! Thanks!

Comment from Lucky225 on 2008-05-10

2008-05-10T05:51:06Z

What this chart doesn't show you is Federal Spending or The Federal Reserve's manipulation tactics (Artificial interest rates, printing money out of thin air.) But like the NY times says this is the Consumer Price index, 'ONE source of inflation.'

Comment from yesteryear on 2008-05-09

2008-05-10T04:11:47Z

id love to see this exact analysis for the UK and/or canada.

Comment from Juggernaut on 2008-05-09

2008-05-10T00:26:43Z

mmmmmmmmmmm, moldy pie!

Comment from Ash78 ain't got time to bleed on 2008-05-09

2008-05-09T23:59:43Z

I like this, but find it a little too granular for widespread appeal. IMO they just need to simplify it to the basic categories instead of all those little tiny bits (which probably have a VERY high standard deviation, statistically).

I also find it more useful to compare these medians against median gross income, so we can see the tax burdens, too :D

Comment from KD17 on 2008-05-09

2008-05-09T23:30:46Z

Cool chart and it only took me about 10 seconds to find the "beer at home" numbers :)