Why inflation may be worse than you think it is

[jusplay4fun]

$4.09CDN for a 591ml bottle of Dr. Pepper...outrageous.

That is BAD, Llama, indeed.

[riskllama]

$4.09CDN for a 591ml bottle of Dr. Pepper...outrageous.

That is BAD, Llama, indeed.

what's worse, jp...is the fact that I actually PAID it - I was really jonesing for a Dr. Pepper after my ride yesterday...

[jusplay4fun]

$4.09CDN for a 591ml bottle of Dr. Pepper...outrageous.

That is BAD, Llama, indeed.

what's worse, jp...is the fact that I actually PAID it - I was really jonesing for a Dr. Pepper after my ride yesterday...

Sometimes, Llama, a Llama or anyone has to do what NEEDS to be DONE.

If you NEEDED that Dr. Pepper, you GOT it, price and Inflation be damned...! Full Speed AHEAD...!

I assumed you enjoyed EVERY milliliter...!

[riskllama]

it was pretty darned good, yeah - US recipe is still better, tho...*shrugs*

[jusplay4fun]

As sales in soft drinks decline, many US beverage companies are trying:

**new formulas,
**new sweeteners (Coke ZERO vs Diet Coke??)
**new flavors.

I have cut out other sweeteners, try to reduce my sugar intake, and now often use stevia (Green packs) instead of Sucralose (Yellow packs), Aspartame (Blue Packs) and I hate saccharin (Pink packs, too much of a bitter after taste and made from Coal Tars...!).

Saccharin, also called saccharine, benzosulfimide, or E954, or used in saccharin sodium or saccharin calcium forms, is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener.[1][5] Saccharin is a sultam that is about 500 times sweeter than sucrose, but has a bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially at high concentrations.[1] It is used to sweeten products, such as drinks, candies, baked goods, tobacco products, excipients, and for masking the bitter taste of some medicines.[1][5] (...)

Saccharin was produced first in 1879, by Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist working on coal tar derivatives in Ira Remsen's laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. (...)

Although saccharin was commercialized not long after its discovery, until sugar shortages during World War I, its use had not become widespread. Its popularity further increased during the 1960s and 1970s among dieters, since saccharin is a calorie-free sweetener. In the United States, saccharin is often found in restaurants in pink packets; the most popular brand being "Sweet'n Low".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharin

Let me go play some games after I decide which Teams I will use on what maps for the CC16 event on CC. I do need to LEAD a Clan, and not just discuss Chemistry and the News, while here on CC.

[HitRed]

Fill a glass with ice to the rim. Then add water. Tastes great.

[jusplay4fun]

Fill a glass with ice to the rim. Then add water. Tastes great.

I usually do water only (ice in the summers and warm weather), especially when I eat, HitRed.

I do have hot tea after dinner and coffee in the morning (and usually Decaf.).

If I want more than water only, I drink Diet Green Tea during the day, AND, full disclosure, I do water with my fiber supplement.

I rarely drink a soda, unless I do Chik-Fil-A meal deal or pizza.

ALL you did NOT want to know about me...

[HitRed]

I'm on the fence about green tea.

[Pack Rat]

What an action filled life you live! Who knew all the different alternative sweeteners there is.

"Alcohol: Because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad"


https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThaWNa6w/

[HitRed]

Gas is cheep $2.22 in Texas, but: BP, SHELL, Chevron and Exxon stocks look high. I was hoping to find a deal.


The silver in a 1964 quarter worth $15.15 would buy you 6.82 gallons of gas today. That's almost 7 gallons!

[jusplay4fun]

[b What an action filled life you live! Who knew all the different alternative sweeteners there is.

I KNOW LOTS, but NOT ALL, on this topic. And Guess WHAT? I did NOT have to look up any facts on the topic of artificial (non-sugar) SWEETENERS because:
1) I recently researched the matter,
2) I remember what I read and had already researched, and
3) I shared that INFO with others.
4) I then used that research and info to change my habits a bit concerning my use of artificial sweeteners.

5)
btw: When travelling to the American West a few years ago, I visited a POTATO Farm in Idaho (is that POSSIBLE, a farm of Potatoes in IDAHO??? ), the farmer grew some stevia plants. I asked if I could pick a leaf from one small plant and it was VERY SWEET and had no after taste or other bad aspects. AND IT IS REALLY Natural and Organic...!

and, at HitRed, I like cheap gas, but I think that cheap gas will make it that much worse to change to alternate fuels going forward. My REAL HOPE is for FUSION to become a major source of power in the world in my Lifetime. BUT I am certainly NOT holding my breath on that point.

I have met someone ACTUALLY working on this PROJECT for one of the major US investment/University Partnerships PUTTING much capital and effort on making this a reality, soon.

[jusplay4fun]

How well is the Trump Economy doing?

Spoiler

GREAT

USA TODAY
US economy added 130,000 jobs in January, unemployment falls to 4.3%

U.S. employers added 130,000 jobs in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Feb. 11 (...)

January job growth surpassed forecasters' expectations, as employers added more than double the amount of jobs they did in December. The unemployment rate ticked down to 4.3%, after falling from 4.6% in November to 4.4% in December.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-econo ... p_catchall

Note, to put the 4.3% unemployment in perspective, that FULL Employment is considered to be at 4.0% of the US Economy.

and

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 130,000 for January, above the Dow Jones consensus estimate for 55,000, according to seasonally adjusted figures the Bureau of Labor Statistics released Wednesday.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/11/jobs-re ... 2026-.html

[Pack Rat]

Majority of Americans don't believe you.

AI Overview
+6
As of February 2026, a majority of Americans express dissatisfaction with President Trump's handling of the economy, with disapproval ratings reaching highs of 57%–59%, driven by concerns over inflation and the impact of tariffs. While Republicans remain largely supportive, public approval of his economic stewardship has dropped to roughly 36%–39%, a decline from earlier in his second term.
Key 2026 Poll Findings on the Economy:
Low Approval Ratings: 57% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy, the highest disapproval mark of either of his terms, with only 36% approving, according to a mid-December 2025/early 2026 NPR/PBS News/Marist poll.
Declining Confidence: A February 2026 Reuters poll found that only 39% of Americans approve of his economic management, down from 43% a month prior.
Tariff Concerns: Over half of Americans say tariffs, a key element of his second-term economic policy, are harming the U.S. economy, a view that has intensified by 8 percentage points.
Worsening Conditions: A Pew Research Center analysis from February 4, 2026, shows that 52% of Americans believe his policies have made economic conditions worse, while 28% say they have improved them.
Independent Voters: Support among independent voters is low, with The New York Times reporting that only 34% approve of his overall job performance, which is heavily influenced by economic dissatisfaction.

[jusplay4fun]

simply more LLC obfuscation:

pack rat CLAIMS that people are dissatisfied (and OF COURSE, pack rat CANNOT or does not cite his source(s)...) while the Economy is actually DOING WELL. Go back to your dung heap to gather more CRAP and stink and try to spread your FALSE Narratives puny pathetic pack rat. In times of Economic uncertainty, OF COURSE many are unsure where things are headed and OF COURSE there are CONCERNS. C'est la via.

[mookiemcgee]

Except that while Jan saw 130,000 jobs created, they revised 2025 numbers overall down by 900,000... I noticed you didn't mention this at all while glazing your leader and his economic prowess. It means 4 additional months in 2025 saw jobs decreases for a total of 7 months where we lost more jobs than we gained.

It pays to read the entire article before you cherry pick quotes

[jusplay4fun]

Except that while Jan saw 130,000 jobs created, they revised 2025 numbers overall down by 900,000... I noticed you didn't mention this at all while glazing your leader and his economic prowess. It means 4 additional months in 2025 saw jobs decreases for a total of 7 months where we lost more jobs than we gained.

It pays to read the entire article before you cherry pick quotes

and you do NOT? Art thou THAT holy, Mookie???

Spoiler

Mookie is guilty of Cherry Picking, TOO, so look who is calling the Kettle Black, Red, or Purple?

[jusplay4fun]

CPI report shows inflation cooled in January, with prices rising at a 2.4% annual pace
By Mary Cunningham
Updated on: February 13, 2026 /

The Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% in January from a year ago, below economists' forecasts and a sign that price pressures across the U.S. are easing.

By the numbers

The CPI was expected to rise 2.5% on an annual basis last month, according to economists polled by financial data firm FactSet. The January CPI represents the slowest pace of inflation since May 2025 and is down from December's 2.7% annual rate.

"The fact that price pressures in January were contained is notable given the usual upward pressure from annual price resets and seasonal effects – factors that have tended to push January inflation prints higher in recent years," Lydia Boussour, senior economist at EY-Parthenon, said in a report. (...)

So-called core inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — rose 2.5% over the past 12 months, the lowest level since March 2021. (...)

The Trump administration's tariffs, which research shows were largely passed onto customers in the form of higher prices, have had a weaker impact on inflation than initially feared, as evidenced by the economy's strong performance in 2025. (...)

Recent data point to solid economic growth, reducing the need for a Fed cut. The nation's gross domestic product expanded at a robust 4.3% annual pace in the third quarter, the strongest growth in two years.

The job market also remains healthy, with employers adding a stronger-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, according to employment figures released earlier this week.

Wall Street analyst Adam Crisafulli, head of Vital Knowledge, said in a research note Friday that he expects the Fed to next cut interest rates at its meeting in June.

I am sure that Mookie wants to accuse me of "cherry picking data" about the US Economy. I cited most of the key data in the article. BTW: the graph imbedded in the article shows inflation under Feeble Old Joe neared 10% and Trump has been consistently 3.0% or LESS since his inauguration.

[Pack Rat]

CPI report shows inflation cooled in January, with prices rising at a 2.4% annual pace
By Mary Cunningham
Updated on: February 13, 2026 /

The Consumer Price Index rose 2.4% in January from a year ago, below economists' forecasts and a sign that price pressures across the U.S. are easing.

By the numbers

The CPI was expected to rise 2.5% on an annual basis last month, according to economists polled by financial data firm FactSet. The January CPI represents the slowest pace of inflation since May 2025 and is down from December's 2.7% annual rate.

"The fact that price pressures in January were contained is notable given the usual upward pressure from annual price resets and seasonal effects – factors that have tended to push January inflation prints higher in recent years," Lydia Boussour, senior economist at EY-Parthenon, said in a report. (...)

So-called core inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — rose 2.5% over the past 12 months, the lowest level since March 2021. (...)

The Trump administration's tariffs, which research shows were largely passed onto customers in the form of higher prices, have had a weaker impact on inflation than initially feared, as evidenced by the economy's strong performance in 2025. (...)

Recent data point to solid economic growth, reducing the need for a Fed cut. The nation's gross domestic product expanded at a robust 4.3% annual pace in the third quarter, the strongest growth in two years.

The job market also remains healthy, with employers adding a stronger-than-expected 130,000 jobs in January, according to employment figures released earlier this week.

Wall Street analyst Adam Crisafulli, head of Vital Knowledge, said in a research note Friday that he expects the Fed to next cut interest rates at its meeting in June.

I am sure that Mookie wants to accuse me of "cherry picking data" about the US Economy. I cited most of the key data in the article. BTW: the graph imbedded in the article shows inflation under Feeble Old Joe neared 10% and Trump has been consistently 3.0% or LESS since his inauguration.

Americans are not happy about the economy.

AI Overview



+4
As of mid-February 2026, President Donald Trump's approval rating sits in the high 30s, with multiple polls indicating a net negative approval, generally showing 37% to 39% approval and 56% to 60% disapproval. Recent data shows his rating has continued to slip, with significant drops in confidence regarding his policies.
Key findings from recent polls (Feb 2026):
The Economist (Feb 14): 38% approve, 56% disapprove (net -18).
CNN Poll of Polls (Feb 14): 39% approve, 59%-60% disapprove.
New York Times Polls (Feb 12): 34%–43% approve, 53%–57% disapprove across various trackers.
Pew Research Center (Jan 29): 37% approve, down from 40% in fall 2025.
Key Trends & Details
Declining Support: A late Jan 2026 Pew survey noted that approval has dropped, with only 27% of Americans supporting most of his policies, a decrease from 35% when he returned to office.
Party Breakdown: As of Nov 2025, 84% of Republicans approved, compared to only 25% of independents and 3% of Democrats.
State-Level: A Feb 9, 2026, report showed his net approval is above water in only 22 states, dropping from 24 in the previous update.

[jusplay4fun]

another WORTHLESS, impotent, and repetitive post by the redundant puny pack rat

He cannot offer any real refutation; NO surprise HERE. pack rat = LOSER = terrible debater

btw: pack rat starts ANOTHER thread where NO ONE deems worthy to respond and react. SILLY rat

Champion of Coal Award goes to?
by Pack Rat » Thu Feb 12, 2026 2:20 pm
0 = ZERO VIEWS

pack rat AGAIN PROVES that he is a REAL LOSER. PATHETIC. You are really bad at this, pack rat.

[Pack Rat]

MAGA theatrics!

[jusplay4fun]

But I say to you,
whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment;
and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,'
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin;
and whoever says, 'You fool,'
will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:22-24

Lent starts this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.

[Pack Rat]

Trump's approval numbers falling to new records

Will Trump be impeached? Trump's approval rating 2026 midterms poll https://share.google/MbPewUCpFspkpRDuZ

[HitRed]

Raqa is an Aramaic term meaning "worthless" or "empty-headed." It is notably used in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus warns against using it as an insult, equating such behavior with serious moral transgressions, including murder. The term reflects a lack of respect for human dignity and is a violation of the Fifth Commandmen

[jusplay4fun]

Raqa is an Aramaic term meaning "worthless" or "empty-headed." It is notably used in the New Testament, specifically in Matthew 5:22, where Jesus warns against using it as an insult, equating such behavior with serious moral transgressions, including murder. The term reflects a lack of respect for human dignity and is a violation of the Fifth Commandmen

I know. Hence my post and my attempt to be more civil toward certain persons, at least for a few days.

[Pack Rat]