By Mark Hopper

The cost of everything has skyrocketed over the past few years. The cost of food, fuel and other necessities have risen dramatically. The government continues to reassure the public that inflation is slowing and things are under control. But most consumers are skeptical.

I have used the cost of donuts as an example. A dozen donuts at my favorite shop used to be nine or ten dollars. Recent purchases are now sixteen dollars for one dozen! One day I bought a half dozen and it was about the same price a dozen was only a couple of years ago.

Sometimes it is difficult to accurately measure inflation at the grocery store because manufacturers have reduced the quantity of the contents. A breakfast cereal box may look the same but it may contain less cereal. A bottle of orange juice may look the same but the contents have been reduced from 64 ounces to 59 ounces. Now it contains only 52 ounces. Looks can be deceiving. Read the fine print to clearly understand how much orange juice you are getting. Prices have gone up while the contents have gone down.

Years ago the State Department came up with a formula to measure the cost of living for diplomats serving in different countries around the world. They adjusted the salaries of employees based on how much it cost to live in more expensive cities like Tokyo, Moscow or Paris. They compared the price of a MacDonald’s Big Mac burger.

I got the idea to measure inflation by comparing the prices at my favorite fast food restaurant In N Out Burger. Several sources I found online confirmed the price of a Double-Double Cheeseburger in 2022 was $3.95. The price for the exact same burger in 2023 was $4.90. An increase of 24% in one year! The same size with the same ingredients. Some of the reasons cited by various authors were increased wages for workers, the higher cost of transportation and the price of the raw materials for the burgers and fries.

I think most people feel helpless fighting inflation. We need to feed our families and fuel our cars. Prices at the gas pump and the grocery store continue to increase. Jesus said our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us (Matthew 6:25-34). Let me encourage you to put your faith in God and not in the government. You will be glad you did and He will too.

You can read more stories by Mark Hopper in his new book “Let Me Encourage You More – An Encouraging Story for Every Day of the Year”. Order your copy today at markh@efreedb.org. The price is $25 per book or two books for $40 plus postage ($5). Purchase one for yourself and give one to a friend. You will be glad you did!