Would sure make sense to factor in ALL OF THE BELOW - not just base it on energy costs:
“”Inflation over the past year, as measured by Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), was 0%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that was due largely to the 18.4% decline in energy prices.
Other costs, however, were up: Food was up 1.6%; shelter, 3.2%; and medical care, 2.4%. That means Social Security recipients might have to search for ways to cut back to balance their budgets. At the moment, according to the BLS’ consumer expenditure survey, housing represents 33.9% of annual expenses for households over age 65; transportation, 15.9%; health care, 13.4%; and food, 12.5%.””
I just paid $12/pound for steak yesterday.