[Elizabeth]

I don't know that talking less would help. Most people have cell phones now, so pay phones are actually quite scarce. I have to take your word about the 50 cents. As for less people using the bus - that just decreases the availability of bus service. Most areas don't have bus service at all.

I think it is more a matter of the mechanics of inflation. People want their annual raises whether they deserve them or not, so companies have to pay them more, so they have to charge customers more, so the customers need to earn more money, so they demand their annual cost of living increases from their employers.