Downward pressure on prices the last few years has been so profound that even skyrocketing fuel costs, and rising prices for commodities hasn't brought about a serious rise in inflation.But that might all be coming to an end. As the economy starts to rev up like a Trabant in below zero weather (very slowly and not very powerfully), that downward pressure starts to ease up and companies feel more like raising prices for the goods and services they supply.New York Times: A package of Oscar Mayer cold cuts. A pair of Nine West boots. A Whirlpool washing machine. By the fall, people will most likely be paying more for each of them, as rising prices hit most consumer goods, say retailers, food companies and manufacturers of consumer products.Cotton prices are near their highest level in more than a decade, after adjusting for inflation, and leather and polyester costs are jumping as well. Copper recently hit its highest level in about 40 years, and iron ore, used for steel, is fetching...(Read Full Post)