patrick.net

need more HVAC technicians, as a lot of the workforce has retired when then baby boomers started to retire in mass around 2011

this is one way to help increase supply of blue collar skilled workforce and help to reduce inflation (i.e., services aggregate of CPI)

we have Thomas Haney Technical College which is part of the local school district which graduates from HVAC technicians to licensed practical nurses (LPNs) which all are needed in the Florida panhandle
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https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/skills-based-hiring-degree-requirements/680044/

A more scalable model is the FastForward Program, which has funded career-oriented training for almost 45,000 learners in 23 community colleges across Virginia. As part of the program, the state community-college system has created career maps in fields such as manufacturing and health sciences, with a common curriculum that allows people to obtain advanced credentials that build on one another, or “stack,” and opens doors to better-paying jobs. An early evaluation of FastForward found that enrolled students who received an industry-recognized credential saw increased earnings of about $4,000 a year.

Congress could do something similar on a national scale by creating and funding a federal certification program for career pathways in fields with high job demand and good prospects for upward mobility, such as advanced manufacturing and cardiovascular technology.

AD says

Congress could do something similar on a national scale by creating and funding a federal certification program for career pathways in fields with high job demand and good prospects for upward mobility, such as advanced manufacturing and cardiovascular technology.

How would that keep them dependent on the government and voting Dem?

HeadSet says

How would that keep them dependent on the government and voting Dem?

give federal grants for job training like to Haney Tech in Panama City, Florida for nursing training, HVAC technician and auto repair training, etc.

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https://genesiustimes.com/breaking-made-up-government-economic-data-in-line-with-completely-fabricated-economic-forecast/

One less tablet:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-02/supermarket-shrinkflation-rules-unit-pricing-code-change/104423774

zzyzzx says

Weight and volume are two different measurements due to a thing called density….

ForcedTQ says

Weight and volume are two different measurements due to a thing called density….

True, only pure water has the same weight and volume when measured in ounces.

When your KFC meal for 2 serves 1:

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/10/mega-millions-tickets-will-climb-to-5-but-officials-promise-bigger-prizes-and-better-odds/

Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5

zzyzzx says

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/10/mega-millions-tickets-will-climb-to-5-but-officials-promise-bigger-prizes-and-better-odds/

Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5

Now THAT is price couging.

zzyzzx says

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/10/mega-millions-tickets-will-climb-to-5-but-officials-promise-bigger-prizes-and-better-odds/

Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5

“Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that’s pretty good,” said Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions.

You would be spending $5 on nothing. The chance of winning even if you bought 1,000 tickets is virtually zero.

HeadSet says

zzyzzx says

https://wtop.com/lifestyle/2024/10/mega-millions-tickets-will-climb-to-5-but-officials-promise-bigger-prizes-and-better-odds/

Mega Millions tickets will climb to $5

“Spending 5 bucks to become a millionaire or billionaire, that’s pretty good,” said Joshua Johnston, director of the Washington Lottery and lead director of the group that oversees Mega Millions.

You would be spending $5 on nothing. The chance of winning even if you bought 1,000 tickets is virtually zero.

It's a tax on people who flunked probability in school. The tax just went up.

HeadSet says

You would be spending $5 on nothing. The chance of winning even if you bought 1,000 tickets is virtually zero.

The thing about the lottery is that you have pretty much the same chance of winning even if you don't buy a lottery ticket.

Old spinach package vs new spinach package:

Cookies now have less M&M's:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/16/business/tostitos-chips-shrinkflation-pepsi/index.html

America revolted against Tostitos and Ruffles. Now they’re making big changes

https://www.retailbrew.com/stories/2024/10/15/nearly-1-in-3-supermarket-products-have-been-shrinkflated-over-last-four-years

Nearly 1 in 3 supermarket products have been shrinkflated over last four years

Nooooooo:

PepsiCo (PEP) is unshrinking shrinkflation.

The owner of Lay’s, Doritos, Tostitos and Ruffles chips will put more chips in some bags to claw back customers tired of higher prices with skimpier bags. Shoppers have balked at downsized chips, cookies, paper towels and other products, widely known as shrinkflation, and turned to cheaper options or stopped buying altogether.

A PepsiCo spokesperson told CNN that Tostitos and Ruffles “bonus” bags will contain 20% more chips for the same price as standard bags in select locations. PepsiCo is also adding two additional small chip bags to its variety-pack option with 18 bags, the spokesperson said.

“It’s the football season. There’s a lot of gatherings,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said on an earnings call last week.

It’s a reversal of years of shrinking bags of Tostitos, Ruffles and other chip brands.

In 2021, Edgar Dworsky, a consumer protection lawyer and founder of the website Consumer World, who meticulously tracks shrinkflation, found that Tostitos’ “Hint of Guacamole” version shrank by one ounce from 12 to 11 ounces, while its “Hint of Lime” version dropped from 13 ounces to 11. Dworsky also found that Ruffles shaved off a half-ounce to a “Sour Cream & Onion” bag in 2013.

“It’s about time,” Dworsky said of PepsiCo’s move. “Chip lovers have suffered through years of downsizings.”

The_Deplorable says

Not sure that "$15,000" house is 1980. More like 1950-1960.

HeadSet says

The_Deplorable says

Not sure that "$15,000" house is 1980. More like 1950-1960.

I agree, more like $45,000 for a median house in 1980, and minimum wage was $3.10 in 1980.

6.5 hours of minimum wage of $3.10 could buy the weekly groceries of $20 in 1980. Today assuming minimum or lowest hourly wage is $14 (not the government mandated level), it would take 9 hours to buy weekly groceries.

To stretch dollar I would try to buy as much generic brands like Great Value at Walmart and also shop at Aldi or Sams Club.

.

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https://thefederalist.com/2024/10/16/trump-says-he-will-cut-energy-bills-in-half-during-fox-news-town-hall/

Former President Donald Trump pledged to cut energy bills in half during a Fox News town hall with women voters aired Wednesday.

“Everything starts with interest rates,” Trump said, adding that a solution to the inflation crisis also “starts with energy.”

“I’m making this pledge here,” Trump said. “But I have made it a couple of days before,” Trump teased. “Your energy bill, which is a very big bill, will be down 50 percent starting one year from Jan. 20.” ...

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris promptly forfeited Trump’s strategy of American energy dominance upon inauguration in 2021 with regulations designed to curb U.S. fuel production. Americans suffered months of record gas prices and the most expensive outbreak of inflation in 40 years just one year into the Democrats’ administration.

“If your energy bills come down to half, which they will,” Trump said, “It’s going to bring everything down with it.”

I do think Trump would lower energy prices via more American production, but I don't see how he can promise a 50% reduction in energy bills.

And I'm pretty sure that the Fed will try to undermine his presidency by jacking up rates as much as they can.