Shadowstats is probably the most trustworthy source of information available in the United States today. Basicly, their metrics are the most similar to those used prior to WW2, so they would be the best to compare to the official statistics for the Great Depresssion, as an example. The data that comes out of official US government channels are only slightly more trustworthy than those that come out of official Chinese channels, or official Cuban channels. It is unwise to trust the word of the institution that is most likely to benefit from an unrealisticly positive image.
Um, lol? Who says I have to trust the BLS? My own eyes function just fine, and the prices I pay have not doubled over the last 7 or 8 years as that ridiculous chart would indicate--with or without energy costs--and tripled and quadrupled over similarly short timescales prior. That chart clearly relies on people not understanding pretty basic math, or having no memory.
Mine have more than doubled.