Advertising appeals to your desire to buy something. It tries to convince you that you've just got to have it. Then advertising tries to convince you, the consumer, to move beyond just wanting the item to the action of actually buying it. The government watches the prices of hundreds of products and services across the country because they affect how well you live. Some of these items are food, clothing, furniture, housing, medical fees, and transportation. If prices rise, your cost of living goes up. Cost of living is how much you have to spend just for the necessities of life (needs, not wants). You must spend more just to survive, so your cash flow goes down. Then you have less money to spend for wants or savings, called your disposable income. Your cash flow is just your income minus your outgoing cash - the money you have
coming in and going out. On the other hand, if prices fall, your cost of living goes down. You cash flow goes up. The government tries to keep the cost of living stable so people can afford all the things they need and more.