Many people complain about the cost of postage, claiming it has risen way out of proportion to anything else. Let's do some simple arithmetic to check this.
Postage: was 3 cents, now 44 cents - 14-2/3 times as much
Daily newspaper: was 5 cents, now 75 cents - 15 times as much (and in Duluth half as much stuff to read)
Bus fare (Cleveland OH): was 10 cents, now $2.25 - 22-1/2 times as much (but many routes are longer)
Gasoline: was 25 cents, now $2.70 - 10.8 times as much (of course, this hasn't been adjusted for a much needed gas tax for highways)
Doctor office visit: was $5, now $100++ - 20 times or more as much
Haircut, man: was 50 cents, now $10+ - 20 times or more as much
Ice cream cone, double scoop: was 10 cents, now $3.00+ - 30 times as much
It looks like three of the prices that many people complain the most about are the best bargains!
