Just realized how wild inflation has been over the past three decades. I was digging into some old price data from 1988 and comparing it to now, and honestly, it's kind of shocking.

Like, a gallon of milk back then was around $2.19, and now it's like $2.89 - that's only a 32% jump, way less than overall inflation. But bacon? That went from $1.90 to $5.25 a pound - a crazy 176% increase. Gas was $0.96 per gallon in 1988 and hit nearly $2.87 recently, basically tripling in price. Even everyday items like eggs went up 131%, and a loaf of bread stayed almost perfectly in line with inflation at 113%.

What's interesting is how some things got way cheaper while others exploded. A personal computer cost around $1,400 back then (like $2,155 today), but now you can grab a solid Dell for under $400. Cell phones used to be $2,500 for a brick-sized device, and now you're getting smartphones with crazy features for half that. Hard drives went from $10 per MB to basically nothing.

I'm curious what everyday items like toothbrushes or other personal care stuff actually cost back in 1990 - bet they've barely moved compared to some of this other stuff. The whole thing really shows how unevenly inflation hits different sectors. Some things keep pace, some explode, and some just keep getting cheaper thanks to tech improvements. Makes you think about where your money's actually going.