[rightwingcrazy]

Your reasoning seems sound. Their numbers rely on "implicit GDP price deflators", and yours on CPI, but that's less apples to oranges than "golden delicious" to "granny smith". Both are price indices. Good enough.

I am not an economist, but I play one on FR--you get what you pay for here!

[expat_panama]

Thanks for your input.  When I mine data for insight, I gain a lot by tossing my conclusions out for everyone to kick around.  I prefer finding out if a fellow freeper cam knock holes in my ideas than having experience doing the damage.   Freepers cost less.