I was just reading that something (in this case a mobile phone) cost $3,899 in 1983 which equates to more than $8,000 in 2009 dollars.

Wait a minute, I said to myself. A 1983 dollar translates to more than $2 today? My pay has not increased like that. I make approximately 6% more today than I did in 1983, after taking a 10% pay cut in 1990 and gradually working my way back to a par with 1983 in 1995 and then the 6% increase over the subsequent 14 years.

No wonder it feels like I'm working just as hard, but it's more difficult to pay my expenses and mortgage, and nearly impossible to save any money.

Because it is. I'm working just as hard now (harder, actually, but that's a different story) and making relatively less money. Quite a bit less. If my pay rate had kept up with the cost of living, I'd be making more than double my 1983 income, not just 6% more.

No wonder they say the middle class is the most at risk financially.