[IncPen]

On deflation. I've noticed a couple of trends. Tools are getting cheaper and cheaper. A Milwaukee [a top-of-the-line American toolmaker] Hole-Hawg drill or Sawzall reciprocating saw cost less now than they did 30 years ago. You can buy lesser-quality tools for a fraction of what they cost thirty years ago.

Without starting a flame war, I'll opine that advances in technology and manufacturing processes (and materials and design) allow manufacturers to produce better goods for less money

[ReadMyMind]

Question for all the arm-chair economists...

What's the difference between increasing bang-for-buck (seen most dramatically in the computer industry over the last 20 years) and deflation?

Is there a real difference or is it a point of view?

[snopercod]

In some cases, that's true. But the Milwaukee tools I mentioned are identical (as far as I can tell) to the ones produced 30 years ago. Maybe there are some subtle improvments that are internal. Cheaper gears, cheaper motors, who knows?

Their website did mention that they moved production from Wisconsin to Mississippi and Arkansas. Also they were bought out by a Swedish company in 1995.

And yes, the Milwaukee tools I bought thirty years ago are still running just fine.