With your talk today, I got the urge to go back and watch one of the 'garage builds' from your video list. i wish I'd have met you years ago. You've made hundreds of homeowners happy over the years. You should feel so proud of that work. Even in retirement, there's a lot to admire about the care and skill you put into everything you build. Just wanted to say thanks. Can't wait to see what is next. God bless
After the historical data showing us where we've been, another Ken-ism: "What is next, is coming up next.". Your story about power troweling at night, in the rain, under a tent, with fumes certainly hit home. Yes, that realization that you don't have to do it, or worry about it anymore hit home, as well. But ending a business and retirement can take an emotional toll on figuring out your identity, purpose, and relevancy. I'm here to say you still have all three! What is next, IS coming up next! Thank you Ken.
KEN the wood 🪵 chart price is what brought me to your channel pre Covid times and have enjoyed your videos and like yourself I retired during Covid and now I just do hay farming after 45 years of industrial work keeping plants running 24 hours a day. I am in the same life mindset and realizing where we are now after all of our own life journey!! Be grateful for what you’ve achieved and your channel has been a blessing to watch. Thank you and may God’s blessings be with you
Hi Ken. First time I ever saw someone use a t-square on a white board. Very informative. Sometimes we just don't realize how much inflation there really is.
The retired mechanic at 68 years old. During later years I managed to destroy both shoulder rotator cuff's beyond repair. Being to stubborn to get help I pushed for the finish line of 65 years old. Anything using my arms overhead is painful. My right knee is also very bad. Since February 2021 I had Covid, kidney stones, heart attack, shoulder surgery, wrist and elbow surgery. I am not going to let things stop me. I have lost between 35 to 40 lbs and need to lose about 30 more. I have managed to do minor wood projects since I retired and that cost was way too much. Two out storage buildings and patio canopy. My Social Security check is not going very far. I am currently painting my house for the third time. $50 for a can of paint is crazy also. My house is getting a lot of upgrades and repairs as funds are available. I can do more now that the temperatures have dropped. I am like you I do not like sitting around doing nothing. Take it easy with that knee. Keep me filled in to your progress. God Bless and heal you my friend. The other "Older guy". Don
@@kenskarpentry It has. I tried being shop Forman one time. I am a hands on kind of guy. A friend asked me how I put the storage building together? I used a boat winch to lift walls and roofs. It worked. Enjoy your videos. I know you are going to be out of commission after knee surgery, I am praying for a speedy recovery.
Great economic update. Prices were crazy during Covid and after. Im a shipper/receiver at a local lumber yard and we were buying the bare minimum during those high prices. Things are better now but still high, but people were still building houses, garages,decks,fences. Thank goodness they were! Thanks Ken
@@colreb7149 Well, food prices as a % of wages are lower than they were in 2019. So it takes less working hours to buy the same groceries than in 2019. These are averages of National wages and of national grocery prices. Of course, your personal situation could certainly be different. One more personal example: my 401K has more than doubled since 2019 with adding anything to it including my required minimum annual withdrawal.
Ken,another excellent piece of video Kaiya sounded like a unruly teenager when the teacher was trying to explain things to the class about economics 👍😮😊❤
Ken, Good luck & fast recoveries on the TKR's. My dad had both done and recovered fairly quickly. It can be painful, but he reminded me "no pain, no gain". You'll be glad you did when on the other side of them.
Good day Ken, I have not commented back to you for a long time. But I am still here at 85yrs OLD, I have had both knees replaced first in 2020 second in 2021.I will tell you the one thing that will help you the most is exercise before surgery the stronger you and your legs are the easier your recovery will be. Knee replacement is much easier the back then you be very happy when it's done. My 83yr OLD brother is doing his in November also. Good luck and be Happy! Stormn Norman
I had to go old school and put signs up at intersections, mail postcards, put ads in the paper and put door hangers on doors in the richest county in the country. Work is still slow, this shows you what is happening all over the United States.
Great review, Ken. The mountains in the background also served as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life and the struggles of transitioning through an unstable economy. Still hoping for those fireside chats during your knee recovery period. We all need our Ken time😊😊 .
Thank you Ken. I wish you great success with your upcoming knee surgeries improving your quality of life as you navigate through the retirement years with Sandy.
Wow, this just makes me realize how long I’ve been subscribed to your channel. I was here with you as you did the price charts for material and cost of garages during covid. Your work has always been amazing not to mention your work ethic. Viewers from other States would oftentimes make comments asking if you travel for work (to their State) building garages. 😂😂
I would have never thought the scholar that sits in the peoples house could possibly under any circumstance actually be there, but, here we are. You know the magic that made that happen, will be pulled again. Vote anyway.
Ken...I'm older. Will be 75 in 2 months. Retired 5 years ago after 46 years in engineering. Saved for the 401k, have a pension (unheard of these days) and social security. So we are ok financially. I love retirement and stay so busy all the time. I have many projects and interests. This is important for happiness in retirement for me. What are my interests? Restoring a british sports car (TR4), woodworking and speaker building, piano playing - I play once a month at a retirement home. All home maintenance, etc. Bicycling - and I did upgrade to an e-bike which does not have a throttle but is really nice! One of my "jokes" is that I always have a list...because I don't want to be listless!! I really enjoy every one of your videos!!!
The economy is doing great, for the rich. It's public knowledge that on earnings calls the corporations are happy keeping prices high because people are still buying and they're not getting enough pushback to lower prices to where they should be.
Ken...I used to buy lumber at Heath Lumber...but they are no longer around (so many good folks and family outfits aren't around anymore...no blame, I understand...but your comments on the economy are the reasons why...thank goodness for Pick and Shovel, and Johnson Farm and Yard...still hangin' on! Great stores). Always enjoy your videos...thanks for your efforts. Fortes in Fide.
I like the brown color for the lumber prices Ken! Plywood became red. That works. I thought it was $88/sheet at the worst. It did about the same graph. Steel was blue? Kind of the same pattern. All of it is staying up in price too. Concrete breaks the graph trend. Was it orange? Gasoline was a weird one and was that black? Food has been terrible week to week everything goes up! Clothing I only get at thrift stores. The thrift store prices are going up now! I'm glad you are starting to grow stuff and have chickens to lay your own eggs! I know it has to be very hard to live on a fixed income. The cost of living (COL) increases never match what is really going on. I'm very much enjoying the Vardo build. Thanks for this video Ken!
Biggest factors in all the prices come down to three major factors. COVID was the biggest one. Next is competition that has really shrunk over the past few decades. Which brings us to the last one, Corporate Greed. Profits have been though the roof. Supply and demand no longer follow the same rules of the past because of the lack of competition. With all the injection of government money during the Covid years the money was out there for the taking.
You are 100% right. We the people have this amazing tool called the internet where we can reach literally millions of people by tomorrow. We need to get the word out to start a targeted boycot of these greedy corporations and drive these prices back down. It can be done. Enough is enough.
@@user-roadwander Look for "Targeted boycott" in my comment. You can buy gas, just not Exxon Mobil or Shell for 6 months. You can buy food, just not at Albertson's or Walmart. Target one specific chain/store for X amount of time. Cut their profit margin for one fiscal quarter and watch how fast prices drop everywhere or else watch them squirm when they try to explain a 25% drop in the next shareholders meeting.. A coordinated targeted movement will work.
@@AFO1. Lol. So I guess when gas prices skyrocket then corporations shouldn't raise their prices? They should take the hit? Just like people who don't know the deference between corp profits and what the corp has in liquidity.
You have a lot of knowledge to teach us, so when your knee surgery is complete, instructional videos using past video would be nice. I helped a friend build an 8x8 shed base platform, and in our 70s, we can't bend down a lot besides it being in the hot 90s in Southern California. We used your stand-up method with saw horses. Old guys still rule, 😅
Menards has 5/8" plywood for $22.25 today. That sure seems very reasonable to me compared to so many other things in life (about the same price as a 30 pack of coke). Think about the trees, time, material, labor, shipping, profit, etc. that goes into a sheet of plywood. Thanks for the update Ken.
big fan of eco report Ken you could say thats my jam and your reports are the best wonder if politics play any part in the numbers well we have great test coming up Shortley and will know for sure stay tuned
Good luck with your knee surgery. I've had both my knees replaced and the pain is incredible for the first 6 months. Actually took almost exactly 1 year for the pain to stop. My left knee has no more pain, but has to be redone because it turned out a little crooked. And the right still gives some pain once in a while. Overall, the knees are more stable and with less pain.
The value of my 401K has increased by 33% since this time last year. I also got an unexpected $500.00 monthly increase in my Teamster pension, because the pension fund investments have performed so well. My electricity bill and other utilities have remained stable, rates have not increased. The value of my home and real estate increases a lot every year, so my tax bill goes up accordingly. I am a retired blue-collar worker who never dreamed that I would have this financial comfort in my later years. What a great country we have!
One cannot dismiss the reality of the cause of the spike in pricing since 2020. I am not happy with either "choice" in this year's presidential election, but it's simple economics of supply and demand which made costs of almost everything skyrocket. It wasn't politics - it was the pandemic.
Thank you for showing us what is happening to the American economy. Prices in Canada have been steadily increasing. Building materials are affecting housing prices. Politics in Canada show that we are having an election likely sooner than later. With our parliamentary system, our election dates are not fixed. It depends on our prime minister. We will have an election within the next year.
August 2024, global USA inflation was at 2,5 percent and going lower. Higher prices= look at % profit/margin increase of big corporations versus % of inflation this is where come from the real increases
@@dhache1195 question if you were at the grocery and you paying $1 for a product and now you are paying $1.59 that is a 37.1% or add on or a 1.59 multiplier /add on - you need to do the math and not listen to the slanted media they can not report the truth much less do the math look at product across the board and see how much it use to cost now DO THE MATH! please and think for yourself
The 'pandemic' did have a lot to do with it, but when we reversed our domestic energy policies and started buying energy products from sources outside of the USA, the wheels came off of the economy. That's why we need to be very careful of who we trust to make those and other policies. Thus the huge spikes on your chart around 2020-2021.
@@dougtravins9624 So buying energy products from outside the USA didn't make the wheels come off our economy then, as you originally said, correct? Corporate greed is the real culprit of our economy, and their record profits prove that. We will never be energy independent without building refineries and electricity production.
@@NEKingdom241 We historically depended on foreign energy, but have the potential for independence if we develop what we have available domestically. Corporate greed is a factor but 'greed' is everywhere beyond corporations that we have no control over. Too complex to unpack here. Thanks.
The commodities market is global. US oil and gas production is at record levels. The US can be "energy independent" when the price of foreign oil is higher than the production costs of the domestic producers - but you would be paying a higher price for it. Is that what you really want? "Drill baby drill?" Existing leases are unused and wells capped if domestic producers prices are higher than the global competition. The only way prices would drop dramatically world-wide would be for something to cause demand to drop dramatically as it did because of the pandemic.
Good morning my friend wow very interesting graf we as contractor really notice it more ,and hard to adjust labor cost but we must most people say well in 1960 I built that garage for 1,500.00 dollars and now its 30,000.00 lol ...even on remodeling people can't believe the cost but it's real ,what do we do Staty competitive ..well must go to work to pay your social security lol 🐊🌴😎
You and I are almost exactly the same age and roughly in the same spot within life. The economy is taking a bite out of my income too but so far, it's doable without any suffering. I suppose not everyone can say that they have saved for a rainy day and are content with their position in life in semi-retirement. BTW, your economic review reminds me that there will be some sticker shock when estimates start rolling in for a boiler replacement at the local church. I was in that business some 30 years ago so have a grasp of what needs to be done but I suspect the prices will be substantially higher than what I recall!
One of the best common sense Videos on where the Economy is at. Thank you. Who you vote for matters. Just remember. We are not voting for a Pastor or Priest. We are voting for a Leader of a country. Something has to change in our economy. But that being said At the End of the day we must trust the Lord.
Nice chart Ken. The sharp rise around 2020 seems to coincide with the Covid pandemic. That really jolted how everything was made, transported, etc. Some will surely politicize it, but I think Covid changed the cost model for a lot of products and services forever. I'm enjoying my retirement also, but sometimes lamenting the physical things I can't do anymore. This list gets longer every day.😅 Like someone said, I applied for immortality, but was turned down. Trying to enjoy my remaining time. I enjoy your channel very much.🙏🏾👍🏾
1972,VW bug $2,400.Gasoline .35 cents,rent $60.00 a month.Minimum wage $1.65 hr. Today,I refuse to buy anything I don't absolutely don't need.Thankfully over the years I have acquired everything I could possibly have wanted and needed.
Congrats on retirement. Its a great place to be. I was forced to retire at 59 and it turned out to be a blessing. Nice train setup. I've still got my Lionels from the 1950s but don't have a place to set them up. I'm afraid that we are going to see something like the late 1920s. One of my grandfathers was an architect and the other a carpenter. After the crash, the architect sold life insurance and the carpenter was a caretaker on an ocean front estate. It got them and their families through the great depression. Good video. Good Luck, Rick
It is strange when we are young we don’t think about the extra work we would do now that I am retired I wondered how and why I did it. Retirement is grand.
We are booming in renovation inquiries. People are getting roofs, windows, doors/storm doors. Must be widespread as window orders are 12+ weeks. Seems people want to get the work done before the election. Uncertainty seems to be a factor. Building material is still high. With the hurricane disaster things are only going to get worse. We have maybe 6 weeks left on the season. Haven't been in this position for a couple years where I have to schedule for spring. We have 3 roofs left and I am contemplating whether to do winter installs on doors & windows. I don't like to do that. Plus I have the snow clearing business that keeps us afloat in the winter.
Hi Ken. I'm at that stage of my life also. being a machinist for 20 years for the same company and a jack of all trade master of none. I suffered a work injuries and now unable to work more than 2 to 3 hours a day. It's quite a blow to my ego and self estim to feel useless most of the time. I have a question for you if you have time. On a second floor build, the perimeter rim joist 2x10, how do you insulate that with pink insulation and plastic vapor barrier. Do you wrap the plastic top to bottom or just from the bottom up to the floor sheating? Any help would be appreciated. I looked online and can't find specific on second floor rim joist insulation, just basement rim joist insulation.
Good morning 🙏 KEN. It is ridiculous $$$$$$$$$$$$ SE MICHIGAN 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 GOD BLESS❤ EACH OF YOU. I am praying with you for your knees. My friend did both kness at the same time. She had 6 children at home to help her. It was hard. One is BETTER. THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR YOUR HEALING TOUCH. 3.29 in 3 weeks to 3.99. Hopefully, it doesn't go up on Monday. A week laterr. I Will not buy. I've left many things in the store. ❤❤❤
Thanks. Covid screwed us all and your grafts seem to follow our election cycle. I wont be buying a new truck. My rust bucket could be my last one. Ive been retired for a while and never shopped before so im stockpiling what ever i can find on sale. Retirement is sooooo rewarding........
@DarthVader1977 I'm used to that happening now, but it still pissesmeoff when they do that. At least we know that we're on the correct side of things. 😁
Have you ever thought about price gouging from US lumber and steel companies (and all of the intermediated dealers) because of Trump tarriffs on Canadian lumber and European steel? Concrete cost is related to cost of fuel because they cook limestone and heat water and truck have to travel for delivery.
All of thoses companies in the construction companies are conglomarates who like tarriffs because they make more ptogits without being more competitive or being more productive. Ken you are trying to rationalize something that you are not willing to call for what it is: corporations greed.
I am semi retired also have a job in my shop know something I used to do in 2 to 3 days told the customer 2 weeks going to work a couple hours today maybe LOL
I don't know a lot about your economy patterns (I'm in the UK), but that graph says to me a spike in work jobs after Covid and the market took advantage of that to recoup after the slump, just my ignorant observation. I love your economy vids. It will be interesting to see how they compare again in the next few years! (Love to Sandy, and Lauren, who I feel for as I'm guessing she'll be having to ride 'shotgun' with her brother? for both you and Mum during your knee adventures!) ❤
The massive unemployment and threat of massive unemployment during Covid 2019 - 2020 was met with massive government spending to keep businesses open. The central banks chose to inflate instead of deflate. We came very close to a second Great Depression and global destabilization.
I retired early in 2014, came back in 2016, and retired again in 2018. After a four year fight, I finally got my disability in 2022. Even with that and my retirement, I still have a part time job that tries to make ends meet. Groceries and gasoline have both risen steadily in the past four years, so I’ve had to cut down on both and buy cheaper when I can. I’m praying that things get better after the election.
HI Ken, you've done a credible job of remaining apolitical with your presentations. The graph you have illustrated clearly shows that people are paying attention, what the US economy looked like from 2016 - 2020. From Jan 2021 to the present, everything going through the roof. Reading the comments section is self explanatory... Folks, if you are not registered to vote, get registered to vote & get out and vote or vote early... Vermont here, Bill... 🇺🇸 🇺🇲
Thanks. It was definitely not intended as a political statement. I was just reflecting what I had gone through as far as construction in my own business.
Corporate price gouging is the cause. Pandemic let the corporations charge what ever they wanted. Everything went up in price, materials, food, fuel. Thanks for your insight Ken!
I’m not sure I’m 100% correct but today Walmart has to sell $10 million worth of product to gross $180,000. From this amount everything and everybody gets paid. So I’m not quite sure it is price gouging - I am not disagreeing with you either because I really don’t know all of the facts. I do know that goods, all goods, are directly tied into the price of oil. In 2020 the current administration completely changed what thyprevious administration had put in place Regarding Oil. At that time we were energy independent for the first time maybe in our history. When energy goes up, everything must goes up. And at that time our energy costs skyrocketed.
No it’s not. If the head of a household buys beer instead of paying his electric bill, it’s not power company greed when they cut his lights off. It’s sheer stupidity at the highest level.
Not necessarily. I'm not saying corporate greed doesn't exist. But every business requires energy. Either to produce a product or trucking costs receiving or shipping goods and/or raw materials , even just heating and keeping the lights on in a retail store significantly increased. Oil and natural gas are commodities. When the president of the country that is the biggest consumer of oil and natural gas declares war on fossil fuels the prices rise . The pandemic and the lock downs destroyed thousands of small businesses. Leaving less choices for consumers and more business for the Wal-Mart,Amazon etc. As far as record profits, is it based off of gross profit or net profits? Gross profits rise with increased price in raw materials and energy which increased for businesses just like all of our monthly expenses have, and in business it is passed on to the consumer.
Have you ever thought about price gouging from the US lumber companies (and intermediated dealers) that were initiated by Trump tarriffs on Canadian lumber.
Thanks for the economic update Ken. It looks like it is going to continue to be a volatile economy in many sectors, making it difficult to budget and plan for many projects and acquisitions. Good luck with the surgery and keep us posted on the Vardo's progress.
Bad economic policies, C19 and killing energy independence is a case of cause and effect. Cost of energy goes up and every finger that touches anything causes inflation. Great chart work Ken as it reflects the past 3 & 1/2 years of the increasing pain. I'm 73 and retired too, but some are having to go back to work just, to make it through this life. I'm in Florida and Helene & Milton just made it a little rougher here and I hope that those effected all the way up to Tennessee gets the help require from the government; we will see.
I'm 55 and have had my own deck building business for 30 years. Work is the slowest I've seen in a really high-end area(literally the richest county in the country -Loudoun County Va). Hoping for a better solution with the elections in a month to fix my business, otherwise we are doomed.
So based on these lines, it appears 2020 was a high point. My guess is that if you went back to 2006 you'd see similar patterns around 2008 when the economy tanked with the outgoing GOP ADMINISTRATION. The corrections occurred prior to 2016. The former guy rode the policies of Obama until theY tanked it again. Even Trump said the economy does better under democrats. But when you take/give tax breaks to billionaires (read - curry favor) then gaslight everyone else, see current ecopolitical divide.
That was a good exercise. And thank you for following up with my request. I was one of those who had been trying to get the information. Will you have time to finish the work on the project before your surgery? Thumbs up 👍
Omg. Don’t trust govt statistics. There inputs and variables change based upon there needs to manipulate data. Statistics can always be skewed. Look at your costs per your needs that have changed as that will tell the real story.
I liked ur informative graph chart. I was wondering, as you spoke of prices going up... what correlation was going on in the yrs as to who was our president, what political move where made and so on? I'm a newly retired person & I'm disgusted with the leadership & how things r so out of hand. I'm afraid it's only going to get worse no matter who will be running this country. I'm so glad to hear u hv integrity and stuck to not being greedy regarding prices in your building materials. The greed that's happening is why this country is in the toilet. We only hurt each other when we participate in the greediness & put an in balance on our economy. Plus the stupid spending on war does not help and all the money that's going into immigrants that r pouring into our country illegally at this time all the while our citizens in FL r suffering with little money for FEMA. My mom lost her home & cars do to these hurricanes. There r so much corruption, greed & manipulation of everything will there be a end to this madness?
I agree that it will get worse, inflation has to go up with the huge budget deficit, I don't even want to talk about war, it looks like the dopes in charge are beating the drums...
With your talk today, I got the urge to go back and watch one of the 'garage builds' from your video list. i wish I'd have met you years ago. You've made hundreds of homeowners happy over the years. You should feel so proud of that work. Even in retirement, there's a lot to admire about the care and skill you put into everything you build. Just wanted to say thanks. Can't wait to see what is next. God bless
Thanks for your comments’
After the historical data showing us where we've been, another Ken-ism: "What is next, is coming up next.". Your story about power troweling at night, in the rain, under a tent, with fumes certainly hit home. Yes, that realization that you don't have to do it, or worry about it anymore hit home, as well. But ending a business and retirement can take an emotional toll on figuring out your identity, purpose, and relevancy. I'm here to say you still have all three! What is next, IS coming up next! Thank you Ken.
Well said. Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving from Canada! I feel like since Covid, we are getting gouged by greed!
Thanks you too
KEN the wood 🪵 chart price is what brought me to your channel pre Covid times and have enjoyed your videos and like yourself I retired during Covid and now I just do hay farming after 45 years of industrial work keeping plants running 24 hours a day. I am in the same life mindset and realizing where we are now after all of our own life journey!! Be grateful for what you’ve achieved and your channel has been a blessing to watch. Thank you and may God’s blessings be with you
Thanks so much
Hi Ken. First time I ever saw someone use a t-square on a white board. Very informative. Sometimes we just don't realize how much inflation there really is.
Hahahaha thanks
The retired mechanic at 68 years old. During later years I managed to destroy both shoulder rotator cuff's beyond repair. Being to stubborn to get help I pushed for the finish line of 65 years old. Anything using my arms overhead is painful. My right knee is also very bad. Since February 2021 I had Covid, kidney stones, heart attack, shoulder surgery, wrist and elbow surgery. I am not going to let things stop me. I have lost between 35 to 40 lbs and need to lose about 30 more. I have managed to do minor wood projects since I retired and that cost was way too much. Two out storage buildings and patio canopy. My Social Security check is not going very far. I am currently painting my house for the third time. $50 for a can of paint is crazy also. My house is getting a lot of upgrades and repairs as funds are available. I can do more now that the temperatures have dropped. I am like you I do not like sitting around doing nothing. Take it easy with that knee. Keep me filled in to your progress. God Bless and heal you my friend. The other "Older guy". Don
Wow sounds like your body has been through the wringer!
@@kenskarpentry It has. I tried being shop Forman one time. I am a hands on kind of guy. A friend asked me how I put the storage building together? I used a boat winch to lift walls and roofs. It worked. Enjoy your videos. I know you are going to be out of commission after knee surgery, I am praying for a speedy recovery.
Great economic update. Prices were crazy during Covid and after. Im a shipper/receiver at a local lumber yard and we were buying the bare minimum during those high prices. Things are better now but still high, but people were still building houses, garages,decks,fences. Thank goodness they were! Thanks Ken
Could you give me 1 example of something that is better, I totally missed it. I think EVERYTHING is much worse. EVERYTHING!
Cool thanks for watching
@@colreb7149
Well, food prices as a % of wages are lower than they were in 2019. So it takes less working hours to buy the same groceries than in 2019. These are averages of National wages and of national grocery prices. Of course, your personal situation could certainly be different. One more personal example: my 401K has more than doubled since 2019 with adding anything to it including my required minimum annual withdrawal.
Good basic lesson on price history in the construction industry. Really illustrates the effect the pandemic had on our economy.
And the war on energy
Ken,another excellent piece of video Kaiya sounded like a unruly teenager when the teacher was trying to explain things to the class about economics 👍😮😊❤
Glad you enjoyed it. You’re right
Very good video. Helps up realize more things. Please keep the videos coming
Thanks
Ken,
Good luck & fast recoveries on the TKR's. My dad had both done and recovered fairly quickly. It can be painful, but he reminded me "no pain, no gain". You'll be glad you did when on the other side of them.
Thanks I appreciate it
Ken thank you for your time and your Insight I know all these much appreciated
You bet
Retirement - every day is Saturday. Keep active, though. Love your videos.
Haha thanks
Great information , thanks for sharing !!!!! 😊🙏👍❤️
Kick back and relax you’ve earned it. God bless.
Thank you, I will
Good day Ken, I have not commented back to you for a long time. But I am still here at 85yrs OLD, I have had both knees replaced first in 2020 second in 2021.I will tell you the one thing that will help you the most is exercise before surgery the stronger you and your legs are the easier your recovery will be. Knee replacement is much easier the back then you be very happy when it's done. My 83yr OLD brother is doing his in November also. Good luck and be Happy! Stormn Norman
Hey good to hear from you
I had to go old school and put signs up at intersections, mail postcards, put ads in the paper and put door hangers on doors in the richest county in the country. Work is still slow, this shows you what is happening all over the United States.
Not many read paper anymore..
7/16 osb has gone from $ 10.20 a sheet four months ago to 16.50/18.50 a sheet currently. With the recent Hurricanes I am sure it will go up more.
Ouch!
Hurricane is time for "opportunism" and momentum greed
Gooooooood morning, Ken!
Good morning Tim
Bob Ross of economy charts 🤠👏👏👏👍👍
Hahahaha thanks
Great review, Ken. The mountains in the background also served as a metaphor for the ups and downs of life and the struggles of transitioning through an unstable economy. Still hoping for those fireside chats during your knee recovery period. We all need our Ken time😊😊 .
Hahahaha thanks I appreciate it
Hoping for a bright future for all of us
Me too. Thanks
Thank you Ken. I wish you great success with your upcoming knee surgeries improving your quality of life as you navigate through the retirement years with Sandy.
Thanks
Wow, this just makes me realize how long I’ve been subscribed to your channel. I was here with you as you did the price charts for material and cost of garages during covid. Your work has always been amazing not to mention your work ethic. Viewers from other States would oftentimes make comments asking if you travel for work (to their State) building garages. 😂😂
Yes time sure flies
I would have never thought the scholar that sits in the peoples house could possibly under any circumstance actually be there, but, here we are. You know the magic that made that happen, will be pulled again. Vote anyway.
Very diplomatically phrased. Vote AND pray !
You are Good man. Thank you for all of your TH-cam.
Looks like all the dips are right around election times.
good to see you sir. haven't seen you in my feed for awhile. i miss your ethics and sincerity.
Thanks so much
Ken...I'm older. Will be 75 in 2 months. Retired 5 years ago after 46 years in engineering. Saved for the 401k, have a pension (unheard of these days) and social security. So we are ok financially. I love retirement and stay so busy all the time. I have many projects and interests. This is important for happiness in retirement for me. What are my interests? Restoring a british sports car (TR4), woodworking and speaker building, piano playing - I play once a month at a retirement home. All home maintenance, etc. Bicycling - and I did upgrade to an e-bike which does not have a throttle but is really nice! One of my "jokes" is that I always have a list...because I don't want to be listless!! I really enjoy every one of your videos!!!
Haha. Nice comment
I sure miss seeing You, Chad & Dan working together. Hope all is well for you all!
Thanks
March 2020 PANDEMIC - COVID-19 Let's be real and take the chart to reflect what was going on.
The economy is doing great, for the rich. It's public knowledge that on earnings calls the corporations are happy keeping prices high because people are still buying and they're not getting enough pushback to lower prices to where they should be.
What’s rich? Depends on what part of the country you live in. With a modest house paid off and no car payments I can make it on fast food wages.
Are you talking rich like Joe Biden or All politicians.
@@timhanson2080 I don't see Joe selling $100,000 watches or $300 sneakers so maybe you can explain your question better.
Ken...I used to buy lumber at Heath Lumber...but they are no longer around (so many good folks and family outfits aren't around anymore...no blame, I understand...but your comments on the economy are the reasons why...thank goodness for Pick and Shovel, and Johnson Farm and Yard...still hangin' on! Great stores). Always enjoy your videos...thanks for your efforts. Fortes in Fide.
Thanks
Great work mate, 🇦🇺 👍 thanks mate 👍
Thanks 👍
I like the brown color for the lumber prices Ken! Plywood became red. That works. I thought it was $88/sheet at the worst. It did about the same graph. Steel was blue? Kind of the same pattern. All of it is staying up in price too. Concrete breaks the graph trend. Was it orange? Gasoline was a weird one and was that black? Food has been terrible week to week everything goes up! Clothing I only get at thrift stores. The thrift store prices are going up now! I'm glad you are starting to grow stuff and have chickens to lay your own eggs! I know it has to be very hard to live on a fixed income. The cost of living (COL) increases never match what is really going on. I'm very much enjoying the Vardo build. Thanks for this video Ken!
Thanks I appreciate it
Biggest factors in all the prices come down to three major factors.
COVID was the biggest one.
Next is competition that has really shrunk over the past few decades.
Which brings us to the last one, Corporate Greed. Profits have been though the roof.
Supply and demand no longer follow the same rules of the past because of the lack of competition. With all the injection of government money during the Covid years the money was out there for the taking.
You are 100% right. We the people have this amazing tool called the internet where we can reach literally millions of people by tomorrow. We need to get the word out to start a targeted boycot of these greedy corporations and drive these prices back down. It can be done. Enough is enough.
@@AFO1 Everyone needs food, automobiles, healthcare, etc. What are you going to boycott?
@@user-roadwander Look for "Targeted boycott" in my comment.
You can buy gas, just not Exxon Mobil or Shell for 6 months. You can buy food, just not at Albertson's or Walmart.
Target one specific chain/store for X amount of time. Cut their profit margin for one fiscal quarter and watch how fast prices drop everywhere or else watch them squirm when they try to explain a 25% drop in the next shareholders meeting..
A coordinated targeted movement will work.
@@AFO1. Lol. So I guess when gas prices skyrocket then corporations shouldn't raise their prices? They should take the hit? Just like people who don't know the deference between corp profits and what the corp has in liquidity.
You have a lot of knowledge to teach us, so when your knee surgery is complete, instructional videos using past video would be nice.
I helped a friend build an 8x8 shed base platform, and in our 70s, we can't bend down a lot besides it being in the hot 90s in Southern California. We used your stand-up method with saw horses.
Old guys still rule, 😅
Hahahaha nice
Menards has 5/8" plywood for $22.25 today. That sure seems very reasonable to me compared to so many other things in life (about the same price as a 30 pack of coke). Think about the trees, time, material, labor, shipping, profit, etc. that goes into a sheet of plywood. Thanks for the update Ken.
Thanks
They told me to dig a little bit deeper but no more money. One thing you learn about retirement the bills grow but the income stays the same.
Right
big fan of eco report Ken you could say thats my jam and your reports are the best wonder if politics play any part in the numbers well we have great test coming up Shortley and will know for sure stay tuned
Thanks
Hi Ken, thanks for these videos, I always find them interesting.
Glad you like them!
I think the phrase you were looking for is "chronologically gifted"
Hahahaha
Good luck with your knee surgery. I've had both my knees replaced and the pain is incredible for the first 6 months. Actually took almost exactly 1 year for the pain to stop. My left knee has no more pain, but has to be redone because it turned out a little crooked. And the right still gives some pain once in a while. Overall, the knees are more stable and with less pain.
Thanks glad yours is doing OK
Wood prices are no joke, rebuilding my privacy fence, wood is $230 each 16’ section.
Wow
The value of my 401K has increased by 33% since this time last year. I also got an unexpected $500.00 monthly increase in my Teamster pension, because the pension fund investments have performed so well. My electricity bill and other utilities have remained stable, rates have not increased. The value of my home and real estate increases a lot every year, so my tax bill goes up accordingly. I am a retired blue-collar worker who never dreamed that I would have this financial comfort in my later years. What a great country we have!
@@colreb7149 How would YOU like it if the sky fell on YOUR head? Vote blue for a safe and sane world!
One cannot dismiss the reality of the cause of the spike in pricing since 2020. I am not happy with either "choice" in this year's presidential election, but it's simple economics of supply and demand which made costs of almost everything skyrocket. It wasn't politics - it was the pandemic.
Thank you for showing us what is happening to the American economy. Prices in Canada have been steadily increasing. Building materials are affecting housing prices. Politics in Canada show that we are having an election likely sooner than later. With our parliamentary system, our election dates are not fixed. It depends on our prime minister. We will have an election within the next year.
And thankfully so. Trudeau needed to go three years ago.
Yeah, need to remove the Elites from power and put it back in the hands of We The People.
we getting a 2.5%SS increase but our bills have gone up 38%
Ouch
August 2024, global USA inflation was at 2,5 percent and going lower.
Higher prices= look at % profit/margin increase of big corporations versus % of inflation this is where come from the real increases
@@dhache1195 question if you were at the grocery and you paying $1 for a product and now you are paying $1.59 that is a 37.1% or add on or a 1.59 multiplier /add on - you need to do the math and not listen to the slanted media they can not report the truth much less do the math look at product across the board and see how much it use to cost now DO THE MATH! please and think for yourself
@@dhache1195. Tell us you don't know what "corp profits" mean by telling us you don't know what corp profits mean.
@alab3657
Tell us why some sawmill mills are closing right now because lumber prices are too low to make a profit
The 'pandemic' did have a lot to do with it, but when we reversed our domestic energy policies and started buying energy products from sources outside of the USA, the wheels came off of the economy. That's why we need to be very careful of who we trust to make those and other policies. Thus the huge spikes on your chart around 2020-2021.
Be realistic, we never, ever, stopped buying energy products from sources outside the USA whether it be petroleum or electricity
@@NEKingdom241 So true. But we were on a path to energy independence once.
@@dougtravins9624 So buying energy products from outside the USA didn't make the wheels come off our economy then, as you originally said, correct? Corporate greed is the real culprit of our economy, and their record profits prove that. We will never be energy independent without building refineries and electricity production.
@@NEKingdom241 We historically depended on foreign energy, but have the potential for independence if we develop what we have available domestically. Corporate greed is a factor but 'greed' is everywhere beyond corporations that we have no control over. Too complex to unpack here. Thanks.
The commodities market is global. US oil and gas production is at record levels. The US can be "energy independent" when the price of foreign oil is higher than the production costs of the domestic producers - but you would be paying a higher price for it. Is that what you really want? "Drill baby drill?" Existing leases are unused and wells capped if domestic producers prices are higher than the global competition. The only way prices would drop dramatically world-wide would be for something to cause demand to drop dramatically as it did because of the pandemic.
Good morning my friend wow very interesting graf we as contractor really notice it more ,and hard to adjust labor cost but we must most people say well in 1960 I built that garage for 1,500.00 dollars and now its 30,000.00 lol ...even on remodeling people can't believe the cost but it's real ,what do we do Staty competitive ..well must go to work to pay your social security lol 🐊🌴😎
Haha get going. Overtime!
You and I are almost exactly the same age and roughly in the same spot within life. The economy is taking a bite out of my income too but so far, it's doable without any suffering. I suppose not everyone can say that they have saved for a rainy day and are content with their position in life in semi-retirement. BTW, your economic review reminds me that there will be some sticker shock when estimates start rolling in for a boiler replacement at the local church. I was in that business some 30 years ago so have a grasp of what needs to be done but I suspect the prices will be substantially higher than what I recall!
I think you’re right
One of the best common sense Videos on where the Economy is at. Thank you. Who you vote for matters. Just remember. We are not voting for a Pastor or Priest. We are voting for a Leader of a country. Something has to change in our economy.
But that being said At the End of the day we must trust the Lord.
Thanks amen
Haha
@@colreb7149 Lol. True Statement
@@colreb7149 OMG. Best comment ever.IMHO
Nice chart Ken. The sharp rise around 2020 seems to coincide with the Covid pandemic. That really jolted how everything was made, transported, etc. Some will surely politicize it, but I think Covid changed the cost model for a lot of products and services forever. I'm enjoying my retirement also, but sometimes lamenting the physical things I can't do anymore. This list gets longer every day.😅 Like someone said, I applied for immortality, but was turned down. Trying to enjoy my remaining time. I enjoy your channel very much.🙏🏾👍🏾
1972,VW bug $2,400.Gasoline .35 cents,rent $60.00 a month.Minimum wage $1.65 hr. Today,I refuse to buy anything I don't absolutely don't need.Thankfully over the years I have acquired everything I could possibly have wanted and needed.
I started at $1.80 hr in 1972. First new car was a Chevy Vega hatchback. $3,200
Congrats on retirement. Its a great place to be. I was forced to retire at 59 and it turned out to be a blessing. Nice train setup. I've still got my Lionels from the 1950s but don't have a place to set them up.
I'm afraid that we are going to see something like the late 1920s. One of my grandfathers was an architect and the other a carpenter. After the crash, the architect sold life insurance and the carpenter was a caretaker on an ocean front estate. It got them and their families through the great depression. Good video. Good Luck, Rick
Thanks so much
Good morning!
Good morning to you
It is strange when we are young we don’t think about the extra work we would do now that I am retired I wondered how and why I did it. Retirement is grand.
Right definitely
Happy Fall Sir.
You too thanks
Great job
Thanks
New and used pickup truck prices upset me. 😠
Right
So frustrating.
Thanks
Welcome
We are booming in renovation inquiries. People are getting roofs, windows, doors/storm doors. Must be widespread as window orders are 12+ weeks. Seems people want to get the work done before the election. Uncertainty seems to be a factor. Building material is still high. With the hurricane disaster things are only going to get worse. We have maybe 6 weeks left on the season. Haven't been in this position for a couple years where I have to schedule for spring. We have 3 roofs left and I am contemplating whether to do winter installs on doors & windows. I don't like to do that. Plus I have the snow clearing business that keeps us afloat in the winter.
Nice glad you’re busy
Hi Ken. I'm at that stage of my life also. being a machinist for 20 years for the same company and a jack of all trade master of none. I suffered a work injuries and now unable to work more than 2 to 3 hours a day. It's quite a blow to my ego and self estim to feel useless most of the time. I have a question for you if you have time. On a second floor build, the perimeter rim joist 2x10, how do you insulate that with pink insulation and plastic vapor barrier. Do you wrap the plastic top to bottom or just from the bottom up to the floor sheating? Any help would be appreciated. I looked online and can't find specific on second floor rim joist insulation, just basement rim joist insulation.
It would the same as the first floor rim board
Ok thank you for the reply Ken. Enjoying your videos on both channels. @kenskarpentry
Ken, did you build the chair? If so did you video it? What is the angle of the back? Thank you Sir.
I did videos about it. The back was 5 degrees
@@kenskarpentry thank you Sir
@@kenskarpentry I found it, thank you Sir.
How are you doing today I am doing good you do a great job
Glad you’re doing well thanks. Appreciate you watching.
Good morning 🙏 KEN.
It is ridiculous $$$$$$$$$$$$
SE MICHIGAN 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏
GOD BLESS❤ EACH OF YOU.
I am praying with you for your knees. My friend did both kness at the same time.
She had 6 children at home to help her. It was hard.
One is BETTER.
THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR YOUR HEALING TOUCH.
3.29 in 3 weeks to 3.99. Hopefully, it doesn't go up on Monday. A week laterr. I
Will not buy.
I've left many things in the store. ❤❤❤
Thanks. Covid screwed us all and your grafts seem to follow our election cycle. I wont be buying a new truck. My rust bucket could be my last one. Ive been retired for a while and never shopped before so im stockpiling what ever i can find on sale. Retirement is sooooo rewarding........
Haha. Thanks. Hang in there
Thank you Ken for the update!
You bet
Do you still get a contactor discount on material or tools.
Yes 5 percent. Just about anyone can get that
What happened with Chads White mountain carpentry channel ? I enjoyed his videos. I’ve been retired for 15 years now. Keep active and God Bless.
Chad has been extremely busy with his work schedule and hasn't been able to put the time into making video's like he wanted to.
Chad hasn’t had time to do videos he’s right out straight working
Apparently voting has consequences.
Rigged elections have consequences.
It sure looks you're correct !
And nowadays, cheating doesn't have consequences.
@@throngcleaver I wonder how long your comment will last, they already "disappeared" mine.
@DarthVader1977 I'm used to that happening now, but it still pissesmeoff when they do that. At least we know that we're on the correct side of things. 😁
Have you ever thought about price gouging from US lumber and steel companies (and all of the intermediated dealers) because of Trump tarriffs on Canadian lumber and European steel? Concrete cost is related to cost of fuel because they cook limestone and heat water and truck have to travel for delivery.
All of thoses companies in the construction companies are conglomarates who like tarriffs because they make more ptogits without being more competitive or being more productive. Ken you are trying to rationalize something that you are not willing to call for what it is: corporations greed.
Your like button is missing. Very informative video.
Bummer. Thanks
I am semi retired also have a job in my shop know something I used to do in 2 to 3 days told the customer 2 weeks going to work a couple hours today maybe LOL
Hahahaha yes
I don't know a lot about your economy patterns (I'm in the UK), but that graph says to me a spike in work jobs after Covid and the market took advantage of that to recoup after the slump, just my ignorant observation. I love your economy vids. It will be interesting to see how they compare again in the next few years! (Love to Sandy, and Lauren, who I feel for as I'm guessing she'll be having to ride 'shotgun' with her brother? for both you and Mum during your knee adventures!) ❤
Yes, Lauren will be home to help take care of things when Ken has his surgery! She's a great kid!!! ❤
Thanks yes
The massive unemployment and threat of massive unemployment during Covid 2019 - 2020 was met with massive government spending to keep businesses open. The central banks chose to inflate instead of deflate. We came very close to a second Great Depression and global destabilization.
Miss your videos
I retired early in 2014, came back in 2016, and retired again in 2018. After a four year fight, I finally got my disability in 2022. Even with that and my retirement, I still have a part time job that tries to make ends meet. Groceries and gasoline have both risen steadily in the past four years, so I’ve had to cut down on both and buy cheaper when I can. I’m praying that things get better after the election.
HI Ken, you've done a credible job of remaining apolitical with your presentations.
The graph you have illustrated clearly shows that people are paying attention, what the US economy looked like from 2016 - 2020. From Jan 2021 to the present, everything going through the roof. Reading the comments section is self explanatory...
Folks, if you are not registered to vote, get registered to vote & get out and vote or vote early...
Vermont here,
Bill... 🇺🇸 🇺🇲
Thanks. It was definitely not intended as a political statement. I was just reflecting what I had gone through as far as construction in my own business.
❤🙏🙂
👍👍👍👍👍😍
Corporate price gouging is the cause. Pandemic let the corporations charge what ever they wanted. Everything went up in price, materials, food, fuel. Thanks for your insight Ken!
I’m not sure I’m 100% correct but today Walmart has to sell $10 million worth of product to gross $180,000. From this amount everything and everybody gets paid. So I’m not quite sure it is price gouging - I am not disagreeing with you either because I really don’t know all of the facts.
I do know that goods, all goods, are directly tied into the price of oil. In 2020 the current administration completely changed what thyprevious administration had put in place Regarding Oil. At that time we were energy independent for the first time maybe in our history.
When energy goes up, everything must goes up. And at that time our energy costs skyrocketed.
No it’s not. If the head of a household buys beer instead of paying his electric bill, it’s not power company greed when they cut his lights off. It’s sheer stupidity at the highest level.
I don't agree. Prices have to go up if the economy is mismanaged. Elections have consequences. TJB our illustrious commander in chief.
@@L46C3 Those figures seem unrealistic. And the record profits corporations are recording say differently
Not necessarily. I'm not saying corporate greed doesn't exist. But every business requires energy. Either to produce a product or trucking costs receiving or shipping goods and/or raw materials , even just heating and keeping the lights on in a retail store significantly increased. Oil and natural gas are commodities. When the president of the country that is the biggest consumer of oil and natural gas declares war on fossil fuels the prices rise . The pandemic and the lock downs destroyed thousands of small businesses. Leaving less choices for consumers and more business for the Wal-Mart,Amazon etc. As far as record profits, is it based off of gross profit or net profits? Gross profits rise with increased price in raw materials and energy which increased for businesses just like all of our monthly expenses have, and in business it is passed on to the consumer.
Soo is the problem Ken that lumbar yards can't get local grown lumbar or processing it is too expensive ?
I’m not sure
Higher prices just meant I worked longer and harder. But now retired it changes what I can do so for me it blew up all my plans.😢
Right
You got a set of plans for that chair ?
Sorry I don’t
@@kenskarpentry how about a better picture ? Ruff measurements ? Thanks for reply I understand keep up the great work !
@@locrewcustoms3490you should be able to look back at his videos from last spring and find the videos of building the chair.
It’s really a no-brainer to explain this chart, And that is because of the pandemic 😷 😷 covid
Bob Ross brother
Remind us--Is the Vardo sold?
Not yet.
No not yet
Just think how much worse inflation would be if they didn’t pass the “ Inflation reduction act” - what a joke!!
Have you ever thought about price gouging from the US lumber companies (and intermediated dealers) that were initiated by Trump tarriffs on Canadian lumber.
Did you mean the Inflation Expansion Act ? The funding of the Green Teeth Deal ?
Thanks for the economic update Ken. It looks like it is going to continue to be a volatile economy in many sectors, making it difficult to budget and plan for many projects and acquisitions. Good luck with the surgery and keep us posted on the Vardo's progress.
Thanks. Will do
Bad economic policies, C19 and killing energy independence is a case of cause and effect. Cost of energy goes up and every finger that touches anything causes inflation. Great chart work Ken as it reflects the past 3 & 1/2 years of the increasing pain. I'm 73 and retired too, but some are having to go back to work just, to make it through this life. I'm in Florida and Helene & Milton just made it a little rougher here and I hope that those effected all the way up to Tennessee gets the help require from the government; we will see.
I'm 55 and have had my own deck building business for 30 years. Work is the slowest I've seen in a really high-end area(literally the richest county in the country -Loudoun County Va). Hoping for a better solution with the elections in a month to fix my business, otherwise we are doomed.
Decks are a waste of resources.IMHO
If you do a good job at your retirement, you'll get a raise. :)
Haha
So based on these lines, it appears 2020 was a high point. My guess is that if you went back to 2006 you'd see similar patterns around 2008 when the economy tanked with the outgoing GOP ADMINISTRATION. The corrections occurred prior to 2016. The former guy rode the policies of Obama until theY tanked it again. Even Trump said the economy does better under democrats. But when you take/give tax breaks to billionaires (read - curry favor) then gaslight everyone else, see current ecopolitical divide.
Hmm spiked abt the time of covid and the tree decease in canada….
Amen to retirement.
That was a good exercise. And thank you for following up with my request. I was one of those who had been trying to get the information.
Will you have time to finish the work on the project before your surgery?
Thumbs up 👍
Thanks Clarence. Yes I should be able to.
Just saw where inflation fell for the sixth month in a row in September and is currently at 2.4%.
Omg. Don’t trust govt statistics. There inputs and variables change based upon there needs to manipulate data. Statistics can always be skewed. Look at your costs per your needs that have changed as that will tell the real story.
I liked ur informative graph chart. I was wondering, as you spoke of prices going up... what correlation was going on in the yrs as to who was our president, what political move where made and so on?
I'm a newly retired person & I'm disgusted with the leadership & how things r so out of hand. I'm afraid it's only going to get worse no matter who will be running this country.
I'm so glad to hear u hv integrity and stuck to not being greedy regarding prices in your building materials.
The greed that's happening is why this country is in the toilet. We only hurt each other when we participate in the greediness & put an in balance on our economy. Plus the stupid spending on war does not help and all the money that's going into immigrants that r pouring into our country illegally at this time all the while our citizens in FL r suffering with little money for FEMA.
My mom lost her home & cars do to these hurricanes.
There r so much corruption, greed & manipulation of everything will there be a end to this madness?
I agree that it will get worse, inflation has to go up with the huge budget deficit, I don't even want to talk about war, it looks like the dopes in charge are beating the drums...
Florida is getting tons of money from fema, ask your governor where its going . He is in charge of where it goes. Just alittle fact for you to ponder.