New and Noteworthy: "Stealth inflation": Tacking on extra charges

"Stealth inflation": Tacking on extra charges David Pogue's latest piece for the New York Times describes a phenomenon called "stealth inflation." "That's when phone companies and just about anybody else who sends you a bill manages to extract more money from you without actually raising their rates. Phase 1 of this program was the proliferation of miscellaneous fees - for "regulatory assessment," "handling," "restocking," and so on. According to Business Week, newly concocted fees will generate $100 million for hotels this year, $2 billion for banks, $11 billion for credit-card companies - and an average of 20 percent extra on every phone bill. Recently I may have stumbled upon Phase 2..." More.

Resources

More.

More from New & Noteworthy