Consumer Price Index Shows That Consumers Like Eating Out, Gasoline [Inflation]

The New York Times made a pretty cool graph out of the Consumer Price Index, which tracks changes in prices for many consumer goods over the past year. Turns out, gas prices went up.

The Times graph, a form of Voronoi Treemap , divides consumer spending into numerous categories and subcategories, allowing you to see what percentage of an average consumer's spending is used for food versus transportation, or on citrus fruit versus tires. Some interesting highlights:

• Electronics took the biggest dip in prices. From March 2007 to March 2008, TVs dropped 18.3% and computers dropped 12%.
• Not surprisingly, the biggest price increases were in fuel: Gas went up 26%, propane and firewood went up 23.4%, and fuel oil (for home heating) went up 48.4%.
• The only non-fuel item that increased by more than 20% was eggs, which went up 29.9%.
• Consumers spend the same amount on "alcohol away from home"(0.5%) as they do on health insurance.
• We spend way too much damn money on fast food. We only spend more money on rent, gas, electricity, new cars, and meals at non-fast food restaurants. I know this is because other categories, like groceries, are subdivided into produce and meat and so on, but 2.4% is still a sizable chunk of spending.

Fannie Mae lost $2 billion in the first quarter. ... [Mortgage Meltdown]

Fannie Mae lost $2 billion in the first quarter. Whoopsie. [ Chicago Tribune ]

Chrysler: Want $2.99 Gas For 3 Years? Guaranteed? [Marketing]

Chrysler is betting that you're worried about volatile gas prices. So worried, in fact, that you'll leap at the opportunity to "lock in" a price of less than $2.99 a gallon for 3 years by buying a new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep.

ABCNews explains:

The automaker unveiled a "gas card" program, guaranteeing $2.99-a-gallon gasoline for three years to people who buy or lease new cars from Wednesday through June 2, 2008. Customers will be limited to 700 gallons each year and must buy one of 23 models. Chrysler will pay for the cost of gas exceeding $2.99 — an incentive with a psychological twist.

Are you interested?

The Chicago Tribune says:

Chrysler's major competitors, Ford Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp., and Honda Motor Co. all said they would not follow with their own subsidies, but Suzuki Motor Corp. has made a similar offer in the U.S. with free gas for the summer.

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