Despite Lower Oil Prices, Little Relief for Consumers

Even though oil prices have fallen closer to $100 a barrel, from $147 about two months ago, many companies that cited higher energy costs for increasing prices are resisting a rollback, saying they still need to recover money lost in the run-up.

Indeed, it is almost like extreme run-ups, then modest pull-backs, are acting like some sort of "conditioning" to make people thankful for prices that are still steadily higher than the year-ago period!

To throw in another anecdote on top of the article's examples, a couple days ago I went to buy a replacement for the portable electric shaver that cost me $11 less than a year ago. This time it was $21, at the same discount outlet.

I suspect not only are higher input costs a factor, but currency readjustment and lower output/higher manufacturing costs in China.

These can all be seen as delayed effects of money/credit creation, and a reversal of the "disinflation" globalization brought in the late 90s and early 00s.