Bent Measuring Stick

(If you remember when getting your car inspected was barely an inconvenience.)

State Vehicle Inspection (1995 → 2025)

1995 Price — A standard state vehicle inspection typically cost $10–$15.

2025 Price — The same inspection now commonly runs $30–$50, roughly a 3× increase for the same checklist, lift, and sticker on the windshield.

Inflation often hides in regulatory routines, quietly compounding costs where repetition dulls our awareness. And when the measuring stick bends, even the simple act of staying compliant asks for more of the hours we traded to earn it.

#soundmoney #bitcoin #inflation #purchasingpower #fiat