Episode 1908 • • 27:15 - 30:45
1908: Chivatican
Economic Data Manipulation and Inflation Calculation Methods
Andrew Horowitz criticizes the methodology used by the government to calculate inflation and employment numbers, specifically the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index. He references John Williams of ShadowStats, who argues that using 1980s-era methodology would show inflation at 10%. The hosts discuss how "core inflation" misleadingly excludes food and energy costs and why jobs numbers are frequently restated for political benefit.
