Inflation statistics are lies. Look at individual metrics in housing and food.

The fact that inflation is going up exactly as much as it should kind of destroys that idea. There are lots of conspiracy theorists that say real inflation is something like 10% per year and the government is suppressing it into a convenient range for the sake of specific policies.

Well, if it were that simple they would simply report another manipulated inflation number and sleep well at night.

Let's assume we accept that there is actually double digit inflation of some sort then what meaning would it have to the economy or monetary policy? Honestly, I'd say it would have zero relevance. Ok, houses went up and now we have to make money scarce and make people unemployed because of that? Building a house creates jobs, selling a house doesn't.

All food CPI is up 2.1% this year, housing of course is much more but that's what the article is about so where's the lie?

Food items are swapped out for lower cost 'substitutes'. I can't imagine someone cooking those numbers

Prices up 2.1%, I would like to see the average package size change. Shrinkflation is happening to everything on the shelves.

package size is factored into inflation.

Package constituents are not.

Most of the food items counted are regulated or graded eg beef. So the package constituents are being considered generally.

What does that mean? Can you elaborate, or provide an example?

Read: cherry pick whichever values are highest to keep the inflation narrative going.

The data disagrees with my hypothesis, therefore the data must be wrong.

Inflation numbers are politically controlled. Simply look at how much buying power you have today vs. a few years ago and you will get a much more accurate picture of what the reality is.