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Part of the problem is that the CPI-U (and the PCE chain deflator) indicators they use don't do a very good job of capturing the cost of living for anyone. Cue rant on hedonics, basket problems, etc.

In the 70s the big focus was on the wage-price spiral, so hourly wages and prices paid were important indicators. Today there is zero wage inflation going on despite near-full employment, and instead asset prices are in an upward spiral. The preferred indicators should have changed to reflect reality but they haven't. That reality is that outside of a bubble sector there may not be wage growth during the lifetime of anyone now living. When the unions ruled the roost and labor's share of revenue was sky-high, a focus on wages was appropriate. Today, unions are almost gone, wage growth is nonexistent, and virtually all money being created is flowing to owners of capital. I'm not interested in debating whether this is healthy, and neither should the FOMC; that's not its job. But under these conditions, asset prices should be the primary driver of monetary policy, not wages or employment and certainly not the near-useless CPI-U. That driver is screaming slow down!!! and has been for some time now.




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