Why can inflation fall while households still feel poorer? Paul Musson of the Paulitical Economy blog joins Piggo's Trading Desk to examine CPI, hedonic adjustments, consumer spending, the K-shaped economy, diesel prices, food inflation and gold. The conversation explores how inflation statistics account for changes in product quality, why lower inflation does not mean prices return to previous levels, and how cumulative price increases can continue squeezing household purchasing power even as headline inflation moderates. Musson connects those pressures to weakening discretionary consumption, retail trends, Pepsi pricing and volumes, one-time earnings adjustments, Netflix's pricing strategy and the growing divide between higher-income consumers and households increasingly focused on necessities. The second half turns toward the physical economy: diesel → transportation → agriculture → fertilizer → food. We examine refinery constraints, the potential consequences of restricting diesel exports, crack spreads and how another energy shock could propagate through consumer prices. Finally, Musson explains why he views physical gold as long-term protection against currency debasement and financial repression. Topics include: CPI, hedonic adjustments, inflation, consumer spending, retail slowdown, K-shaped economy, PepsiCo, Netflix, diesel prices, refining, food inflation, fertilizer, gold, interest rates and AI valuations. Contact Paul: Profile / X Capital Offence by Paul Musson "Capital Offence - Why Some Benefit At Your Expense" - Paulitical Economy 00:00 Hedonic Inflation Explained00:36 Welcome & Paul Musson00:53 Pawn Shops & Consumer Liquidity01:30 Retail Slowdown & Pepsi Pricing03:56 The K-Shaped Economy06:38 Tariffs & Earnings Adjustments08:42 Diesel, Freight & Food Inflation12:07 ShadowStats, CPI & Inflation Measurement14:31 Netflix Pricing & Advertising20:00 Diesel Export Restrictions22:42 Gold, Savings & Financial Repression29:51 Money vs. Capital33:11 AI Bubble & Refining Crack Spreads34:55 Interest Rates & Lagged Economic Pain40:05 Closing Thoughts Chapters