And now sneaky shrinkflation is driving people crazy in the United States

Measuring inflation is hard. The goal is to capture changes in the overall price level - the numbers on every price tag - not swings in relative prices

Shrinkflation doesn’t fool consumers for long. People notice when their stuff runs out faster.
 

When a 22-pound bag of dog food bag replaces a 30-pound bag, Buddy’s appetite doesn’t shrink accordingly. If the 12-pack of K-cups becomes a 10-pack, coffee drinkers have to replenish supplies more often to keep the caffeine coming. When tomato cans go from 32 ounces to 28 ounces, sauces no longer match up with one-pound pasta boxes. Even inattentive shoppers quickly notice they’re getting less for their money.

Smaller packages don’t fool the folks who compile inflation statistics, either.

If a 16-ounce box contracts to 14