hello. i like the avatar. cat-on-cat cruelty makes me happy. i see you have lost interest here. it was a good question. every time people begin answering economics, my head hurts. more pay does equal higher value for what the market share can support. it is greed, plain and simple. dollar values have been causing an internal devaluation of our currency with the systemic bail outs, rampant printing and spending, and bank-to-bank lending at near zero percent. our dollar keeps buying less and less, so stuff costs more and more= internal devaluation. eventually we will be using the money for wall paper once again- and future antique treasure hunters will discover these walls coated with worthless dollars of today- and make a fortune. today, the dollar is worth less than 5% of its value after the last great depression. prices do remain relative to what the market will support, but those poor people suffering at the base of human dignity need to be active consumers, and not just survivors, for a robust economy. if you are paying more than 25% of your income for rent or mortgage, i recommend you hook someone in a similar situation- to share the expense. tough times, indeed.:thumbsup: