AJ, read my response to Sylvestor. Rising energy prices (aka sending more of your money to OPEC) and falling wages (behind the rate of inflation) just isn't inflationary. Inflation is caused by an increase in the money supply. Think rising wages and lower energy prices. More money chasing around fewer goods. You seem to think it works the other way, that if folks have less money and inventories on store shelves are rising, then that's inflationary. I disagree with that.