Why the cost increase?

A meager government pension from a defunct government?

The Zimbabwean government is not defunct. Google Zimbabwe and educate yourself.

Yes, it was meager and the lady wasn’t wealthy, but there is no need to be disparaging about it.

An amount set 41 years ago? Really?

1995 was only 15 years after 1980, and the concept of inflation is as relevant today ad it was than.

(Apologies, I didn’t mean to bombard you with geography and math at the same time. I suspect that’s what’s putting you off your game)

And what retiree should have a car payment?

Taking a wild guess; how about one that has purchased a car?

It takes about $3 today to buy what $1 would buy in 1980. You talk about the price of bread then versus now, its probably more like $5 today would buy what $1 then would have

Well, this will come as a huge shock to you, but Zimbabwe has their own currency.

Let me alleviate some of that there ignorance.

Different currencies have different inflation rates. Currencies with high inflation rates tend to drop in value v.s. currencies with lower inflation rates.

Zimbabwe has had double digit inflation rates for decades, often as high as 50% and even 24,411% in 2007 (no jokes - look it up). Inflation was so bad, that they issued a 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollar note.

Zimbabwe $100 trillion 2009 Obverse - Zimbabwean dollar - Wikipedia

The CA dollar has been at around 4% - 5% level.

Do the math. (yeah I know, that’s pushing things)

Additionally, your Covid example is complete rubbish

Indeed? Is that because the new variant COVID is not infectious?

Or the fact that people who have received so-called vaccines are now being asked to wear masks but only as a fashion accessory as they cannot possibly get ill or spread COVID?

Inflation is out of control. I personally feel ,this is only the start.....

I was at the local Publix grocery store recently and saw some boutique brand of potato chips for sale at $7.00 a pop. The bag appeared to have maybe 5 ounces of product, judging by its size. When there are families that are struggling to pay $3.00 for a loaf of bread, this is insane. The cost of living has steadily spiraled toward the stratosphere going back to the mid1970s and personal debt is now multiples of what it was back then. I think it's possible we've already forgotten the lessons from 2008-2009 and could be headed towards another bursting bubble in the next couple of years. Government fiscal policy plays a part, but Congress controls the purse strings and spending, not the President.