Individual Inflation Costs Differ
Many people who didn’t receive a raise since the start of the pandemic are seeing increases in their monthly income now. AISH, and those on Social Assistance, had their amounts re-indexed after Premier Kenney de-indexed them in 2019, so he had more money to give to the oil & gas companies. Premier Smith, on the other hand, is passing out excessive amounts to try and win votes for the coming election this year.
One person I know, got a five-hundred dollar bonus this year and a raise of four percent. Another person I know, received a one-thousand dollar bonus and a two percent increase in their salary. It would seem it was generous of the Alberta government to re-index those on social support and give them a six percent increase.
Using three people in this scenario, who aren’t making enough money to buy houses, afford expensive rent, or overly spend on food, car maintenance, insurance and gas, plus very little on clothing or household items, it was determined that over-all the rate of their inflation is closer to eighteen percent.
These calculations are loosely based on an interactive Inflation calculator https://globalnews.ca/news/8820620/inflation-calculator-interactive-personal-finances/, published by Global News. At the top of the page it says, “If you had a basket of items in December 2019 that cost $89, the increase in cost has gone up by 12.2% since then.
It would seem each of us has an inflation rate that differs from our neighbours. One thing that seems to remain constant, is that our money isn’t stretching as far as it did in 2019.