It's normally men who discuss the deflation phenomenon which has gripped Hong Kong for over four years. But at home our wives say, 'Deflation. What deflation? There is only inflation in Hong Kong.' A group of us decided to teach our better halves a lesson. We examined the home expenses for six months and to our shock learned that supermarket prices were at least 20 per cent up on 1997. In fact, they were over 100 per cent higher than during the 'cola wars' when supermarkets responded to the financial crisis. Kindergarten prices were 20 per cent higher. School fees remained the same, but our outlay was 20 per cent up because of raffles, school activities and tutoring. Public transport fares had been frozen, but all buses had been converted to airconditioning so local travel cost 20-30 per cent more. Even McDonald's costs more. I remember when its pancakes were cheaper than those of hawkers. Electricity and fuel consumption was high due to the heat wave, but we got some relief from water charges. When anyone mentions deflation, we pounce on them. There is no such thing as deflation as far as our livelihoods are concerned. A. L. NANIK, Tsim Sha Tsui
