Is it possible that some things are just a lot cheaper than they used to be, and from a macro perspective focused totally on dollar figures this looks like shrinkage?
I used to drive to the bookstore and spend $22 on a brand new hardcover book because it was written by a famous author and promoted heavily at the bookstore.
Now I might buy a Humble eBook Bundle and pay $8 for 8 books, and the car, the bookstore, and the big advertising campaign are all long gone (but for the most part, not missed).
There's very little out there I want to spend a lot of money on (travel is the main exception).
I used to drive to the bookstore and spend $22 on a brand new hardcover book because it was written by a famous author and promoted heavily at the bookstore.
Now I might buy a Humble eBook Bundle and pay $8 for 8 books, and the car, the bookstore, and the big advertising campaign are all long gone (but for the most part, not missed).
There's very little out there I want to spend a lot of money on (travel is the main exception).
And growth is mainly driven by wants, not needs.