We are being amused/entertained to death as we slip-slide away

that's how they stole from us in a number of ways.

from shipping jobs over seas to giving 'cheap' products in lieu of pay rises.

And computers are cheaper because they come with no software of any value, making them barely functional. Remember when Microsoft Office and Money and in-depth photo editing software with actual back-up DISCS were included in the box?

Sometimes seeing it in black and white, or red and blue in this case, really cuts to the chase.

Make your items as cheaply as possible, with robots where you can, and slave labour where you can't, and substitute plastic for metal wherever possible, and crap 'metal' alloys made from whatever scrap comes along, rather than actual aluminum, steel, etc, because you're operating in a country with no real regulations.

Given the rise in online universities and traditional brick and mortar schools adopting more online or 'blended' courses, I wonder what part of the college experience is driving cost up.

We lower- and hollowed-out middle-classers continue to need food, shelter, and energy, healthcare, and childcare and to prioritize education; so they can raise prices as much as they want (hence the relatively high inflation in those numbers) and we'll still pay.

But we can live without the luxuries.

and refrigerators!"

Well, yeah, any apartment that is more than a furnished room is REQUIRED to have a working refrigerator provided by the landlord, and even the cheapest new apartments have at least wall air conditioners and maybe central air. I've been looking at apartment complexes in two different cities lately, and a lot of the cheap ones with bad reviews on Google and Yelp have cable included in the rent.

As for DVD players, maybe the commentator bought his when they cost $1000, but now they cost $30, and movies are $1.25 each at Redbox, which is a cheap evening's entertainment.

they may not realize that you can get an outdated model for free with even a minimum contract.

college tuition way down.

leaving non-essentials to compete fiercely for the remaining scraps of money. I am independent reseller of used (made in USA, antiques, etc.) goods. Prices on most items are down about 40%-60% from before 2008. Our beach tourist town has many empty store fronts. Welcome to the new austerity.