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Opinion
Barry Ritholtz

Why Gauging Inflation Is So Hard

Some prices are up, some are down and the Fed doesn't have much control over most of them.
Enough for dinner?

Enough for dinner?

Photographer: Albert Harlingue/Roger violet/getty images

Inflation isn't dead; it just might not be where you think it is.

To find significant price increases, you need only look in the right places. There are many goods and services with rising prices, as well as those without. Together, they tell a fascinating tale about the modern global economy. Understanding the forces driving prices higher -- or not -- is crucial to investors and policy makers alike.