I believe the unemployment numbers as much as I believe the inflation ones. There has to be some funny math going on. Between the grocery store and buying supplies to run my machine shop I am paying 30% more than last year on most everything. As for shop supplies I have noticed a huge increase on shipping charges on consumable items that I frequently re-order in the same quantities. I am ordering a lot from large companies that get deep discounts from UPS, that they used to pass on to customers. As an example I just received two small one pound boxes, UPS ground from 300 miles away. They were part of the same order and came from the same place. The shipping bill was $46 + a $5 handling charge. That is freaking nuts.
With unemployment numbers do they not count those who refuse to go back to work? I see help wanted signs all over the place and lack of workers being blamed for supply chain shortages. These aren't new jobs, just old ones that were vacated.
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