May 2019 is ~$2.70 and May 2024 is ~$3.70, a 37% increase, as opposed to a 100% increase for where you live.
I used May 2019 because there is no use in comparing May 2020 or any other part of 2020 due to COVID supply and demand disruption as well as seasonal differences.
> This must be due to increased state and local taxes
I don't know if it matters all that much why prices are increasing for everything, whether it's inflation, corporate greed, new/increased taxes, or whatever else
The fact is people are getting squeezed from a lot of directions, and meanwhile we're reading about record corporate profits, many companies are doing massive layoffs, and raises aren't keeping up with expenses
No, it just feels that way, because some things are actually up 40%, whilst other things are just less accessible in general or have been subjected to fees which can't be captured as a percentage rate.
The tradesman example I give is one of those. It's not x% more expensive to get something done, it's more like, the small jobs are now uneconomical to bother with at all, so you do it yourself to a lower standard which takes you time. Hence it feels as if the economy is doing worse, because you can't get as much done.
