The “Consumer Price Index” is around 3.2 percent at the moment, although I believe the cost of living has gone up much more for most people, due to prices of things that are not reflected in the CPI. Hopefully, any cost of living adjustments we receive at our jobs will cover at least the Consumer Price Index.

Jeanne Sahadi from CNN Money warns us of six expenses that will grow at a rate larger than inflation in 2005. She cites health insurance, (rose 11.2 percent in 2004), heating costs (34 percent increase in the northeast forecast for 2005), college costs (public university tuition went up 10.5 percent), homeowners and auto insurance (already sky high in New Jersey), interest rates (loans, mortgages, things I’m not worried about for 2005, but it will be nice to have a better interest rate on my savings account), and new homes (apparently there’s a cement shortage).

Time to start budgeting for 2005! It’s going to be a rough year…

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Flexo, the owner and creator of Consumerism Commentary, has been blogging and writing for the internet since 1995 and has been building online communities since 1991. Find out more about him and follow him on Twitter.

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