I've just had my 80th birthday, and I've been reflecting on some of the changes I've seen. When I started driving I could ask for 4 gallons of petrol ( there weren't any serve yourself pumps then), and I could give the attendant £1, and say keep the change. $ gallons today will cost over £36, and I have to serve myself. They keep saying inflation is low, but that doesn't seem low to me. Right now the producer price ines is up over 36%, and that is a more realistic indicator than the retail price index bandied about by the government.
It really does seem to be a way for the super-elite with their hereditary wealth to increase their asset value at the expense of the bulk of the population.