I own a retail liquor/tobacco store. When i got in 11 years ago, cigs would go up twice a year about 50cents per carton, chew about 2cents per can, 4 years ago, they started going up 4 times a year, cigs 80cents pre carton, chew 5cents per can, 2 years ago, cigs $1.30 per carton, chew 10centsper can. Greed is all that's causing it. Tobacco prices have hardly changed. If i'm a betting man, wages to the workers hasn't increased. Only thing is greed by the 1% and they know they can get away with it. Beer? don't even get me started there. Used to increase twice per year. Sales reps got tired of getting there ass's chewed so now they raise it once per year, but double the amount, so it's the same as always. NOTHING in that can cost anymore than it did 5 years ago, in fact most of the product is cheaper. Aluminum is not worth your time to haul into the scraper. Some may not know it, but Anheuser Busch is the largest recycler of aluminum in the country. When there was a shortage earlier this year, they tried to use the excuse "aluminum shortage". I told them bullshit, if there was, aluminum prices would be sky rocketing. Wasn't happening. Coors hasn't had decent stock for the last 9 months and they have no excuse as they bought miller several years ago and they acquired 9 more breweries, they can't/won't give a valid explanation. BTW, beer prices will be going up in the next 60 days. They haven't told us that yet, but they don't have to. We know. Funny thing is most customers don't even complain anymore, they just shrug and say oh well, not quiting smoking or drinking., which is good for me, but total bullshit what''s going on in this country. There's no reason for the price increase but the fact they've always done it and know they can get away with it. Time for the reset