Today in Trumps America, it's unpatriotic if not immoral to mention the self-inflicted rise in the cost of living. Indeed, the inflation numbers are either skewed or completely lied about for His Image. He's told Walmart, for example, they should for reasons of patriotism (or loyalty) "eat the cost" of his tariffs rather than raise prices to the consumer and upset his voter base. I see Apple is being singled out for a special corporate tax (he calls it a tariff, but you don't tariff companies) because they shifted much of their iPhone production for the American market from China to existing factories in India and SE Asia for a better tariff rate rather than magically build a factory to make them (immediately and as cheaply) in America. Amazing how little Trump (and the Yanks in general) know of a global economy. GRIN!

Food companies are typical in their attempt to not contribute data to a poor result in the index of inflation. We already know of "shrink-flation", the reduction in quantity of, say, cat-food in the bag then reporting the price per bag as stable. Crisps are replaced by air here, more air than crisps in the puffy-full looking bag today.

This morning I encountered a sneaky and underhanded one. For Sunday Morning Brekkies I usually cook up that good ol' New England favourite, corn beef hash with runny egg on top.

I now shame Hormel, the makers of the hash. Same can, same price, even the same weight. Can't report anything inflationary there. Still, the can had about ten-percent less hash in it. They just ballasted up the remainder with water.

Hormel, a shining example of how sneaky and dishonest these companies are, all in the name of covering up the rot in America during the last three administrations.

Who's a clever boy in that boardroom?