Planet Money released the song in November, 2022 under their newly formed Planet Money Records label. They had to track down all the members of the band who performed the song, Sugar Daddy and the Gumbo Roux (including Randy Jackson of American Idol fame!), and convince them to agree to terms. Planet Money even promoted the song and as of December, 2023 achieved over 2 million streams. I was one of many fans who streamed the song often and regularly to help the cause.

It is ironic Jackson died just as economic inflation (apparently) died. It is doubly ironic that Jackson passed away so soon after he finally realized his lifelong dream to get signed and hear his own song on the radio. I never got around to figuring out how to make “Inflation” a theme song for this site. Instead, I have written this small acknowledgement and memorial to Jackson for giving so many “Inflation” as a form of edutainment. I also extend a HUGE thank you to Planet Money for making the adventure happen, especially given it was a money-losing enterprise for them. The person who sent that tape must have known something…!

Earnest Jackson, Jr. died at the age of 75.

{Note: On January 2, 2024, I submitted a Wikipedia entry for Earnest Jackson. I hope to get it approved for publishing within the next month or so. It will be my first ever Wikipedia entry.}

The post A Memorial to Inflation…The Song and the Singer appeared first on Inflation Watch.

The amount families spend on children varies greatly based on household income, so these averages hide even more interesting stories. For example:

“A family earning less than $59,410 per year can expect to spend a total of $169,080 (in 2011 dollars) on a child from birth through high school. Similarly, middle-income parents with an income between $59,410 and $102,870 can expect to spend $234,900; and a family earning more than $102,870 can expect to spend $389,670.”

It is clear from the report that the costs increase according to income because of choices families make. Thus, it is not quite accurate to say child-rearing gets more expensive with income. Instead, families tend to choose to spend more on their children the more income at their disposal.

Read/download the full report here.

The post The costs of raising children in the U.S. continue to climb appeared first on Inflation Watch.

For more details see “State Fair releases concert lineup; admission price increasing.”

The post 2012 Illinois State Fair Increasing Prices 40-50% appeared first on Inflation Watch.

For more details see “Redbox rental prices to rise.”

The post Redbox raises prices 20% to cover higher costs for DVDs and debit card transactions. appeared first on Inflation Watch.

If negotiation go poorly, the actors will be left with zero pay. Hopefully, they will still get a cut of the treasure trove that awaits in syndication. NPR states that “…one analyst noted that ending the show would make it worth even more in syndication — perhaps $1.5 million for each of the show’s 506 episodes, which would bring in something like $750 million.” This means the studio actually has a large incentive to end the series rather than continue to pay high production costs to keep the show going.

For more, see or listen to “Do Rising Costs Have ‘The Simpsons’ On The Ropes?“

The post Production costs may have the last laugh on The Simpsons appeared first on Inflation Watch.

The troubles at PHG confirm the poor performance retailers like Best Buy (BBY) saw in televisions. From BBY’s last earnings report (March 24, 2011):

“The Domestic segment experienced a low double-digit decline in entertainment hardware and software, as well as TVs, as current consumer demand in new television technologies had not yet emerged as a significant revenue driver…”

The post Price declines continue for televisions appeared first on Inflation Watch.

See “Netflix offers stream-only service, hikes prices“

The post Now showing – higher prices at Netflix appeared first on Inflation Watch.

“Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer for Netflix, said he is essentially taking the “huge pile of money” that Netflix pays in postage for DVDs by mail — about $600 million this year — “and starting to pay it to the studios and networks.”” (“Netflix to Stream Films From Paramount, Lions Gate, MGM“)

Expect more upward pressure on the price of stamps to recover the ever-bleeding revenue streams at the Post Office.

The post Post Office to lose more money thanks to Netflix appeared first on Inflation Watch.