Adjust for inflation and exchange rate.
Many people on HN can probably explain why the price is what it is now. That doesn't mean that people are willing (or capable) to pay that much.
Mom makes X
Prices go up
Mom still makes X
One of the best ways to look at the effects of inflation is how long between "upgrades" of various things like cars, computers, phones, TVs, etc.
Also, everyone and their mother wanted to buy the M1 when it came out, because it was just so much better than what came before; but there's no real pressing reason to upgrade to the M2 from the M1, so most of the new purchases will be the last few Intel hold-outs upgrading, or new customers.
At $999 and a major performance increase, a new laptop might be a no-brainer (especially compared to replacing batteries, etc).
But at $1199 and a minor increase, why bother?
Probably not true in general either except in stagflation.
Inflation usually means wages going up. Of course they don't all go up at the same time and people get shuffled around, which makes them really angry.
But low wage workers in the US have gotten significant pay raises since 2019. In fact, they're the only workers who are making more after inflation.
https://bcf.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Combine...
…This also means wealth and income inequality are down, which maybe people will be happy about.
> Inflation usually means wages going up.
Inflation is a rise in prices, that's what it means. Maybe I am being pedantic about your use of "means".
> But low wage workers in the US have gotten significant pay raises since 2019.
Mom in my example hasn't, so irrelevant. Why do you insist on using generalizations to try to contradict an example? My example is very real, the generalization does not apply.
> Inflation is a rise in prices, that's what it means. Maybe I am being pedantic about your use of "means".
Wages are a price for labor, so prices going up includes wages.