steviee, inflation as we know it is insidious. Money is printed, lately non stop... and we get less and less for our money (with most things). Items cost more, or products are downsized.
The cost of housing was conveniently left out of many 'inflation' reports, but even with the drop off of highs, housing has eaten up most american's buying power to the point that our money buys us far less than it used to.
I don't care what 'they' say... inflation is chomping away annually.