Interesting how the data is collected. I'd like to know how they figure
housing prices into the equation (30% of the typical budget these
days), and college costs (for a family with two kids that number is
bigger than the sticker for a house), and medical expenses that hit in
later years. The CPI is a national average number, and the phrase
"individual results may vary" seems applicable. I mean, referring to
the article, does it make a big difference to you how restaurant food
is priced?

Just brief follow up on the discussion of the CPI.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/busi...bizprices.html

is an article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about a shopper for the
Department of Labor who goes out and collects prices every month. There is even
an example of substitution.

-- Doug