Inflation Watch:

Record-High Turkey Prices Are Just the Beginning. “Currently, wholesale prices are hovering around $1.09 per pound, the highest they’ve ever reached. This represents a 28% increase over 2009’s prices and a 37% increase over 2008’s.

The BHO Administration still claims that inflation is low. Yeah, right. The 2010 list price shows that a standard blue steel Colt M1911 .45 automatic is now $919. (Or $950 for stainless steel.) I can only wonder what the 2011 prices will be. Certainly not lower. For comparison, in the early 1960s a standard blue steel Colt M1911 sold for around $60. But by the early 1990s they had jumped to around $375. Here is a thought: If I just liquidate three of my 1/4-ounce American Eagle gold coins… Here is the math: They cost me $95 each in 2001. ($285 for the three coins.) I can now sell them for $337.50 each. Selling those three coins will put $1,012.50 cash (or a Colt .45) in my pocket. So I shouldn’t so much be concerned that a Colt pistol that has gone up. Rather, it is the dollar that has gone down.

Dr. F.J.D. sent: Consumer Prices For Hospital Services Increased. Modern Healthcare reported, “Consumer prices for hospital services increased 0.7% in October after rising 1.8% the prior month, according to seasonally adjusted figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” Conversely, “consumer prices for physician services dropped 0.1% last month after a 0.4% increase in September.”

Reader “Sam’s Mom” notes: “For the past few years I’ve bought boxes of 24 StarterLogg fire starters for use in our wood stove. Over time the price has increased from about $7 to $10 at the end of last winter.  Yesterday I was surprised to see the price at Wal-Mart for the 24-count box is still $10, but when I picked up a box I realized it was smaller than before.  At home, I compared it with boxes from last year and found the older boxes were 9.75 pounds; the new box (with identical packaging) was 6.83 pounds.  I’m considering instead using Dollar bills to start fires.  Thank you for a life-changing blog.”