Let me break this down for you: The UK’s official inflation measure now includes alcohol-free beer. That’s right, folks, as we struggle with gas prices, groceries, and rent, our government is busy adding a product that most people would find unnecessary to the list of items they use to gauge how much things cost.

Now, why are they doing this? Because nobody is going to tell you this on CNN or BBC. The real reason is so simple yet terrifying: it’s an attempt to make inflation look better than it actually is.

The buried number here — the one that doesn’t get mentioned in all those fancy reports and press releases — shows just how bad things are getting. It’s not “transitory” or some other buzzword from Wall Street; it’s the cold, hard truth about what you see at your local supermarket every day.

So who benefits when alcohol-free beer is included in inflation? Not you, and certainly not me. This move helps those who are telling us everything is fine, while we’re seeing prices go up on items that matter.

Remember, the next time you hear someone talk about how well the economy is doing, ask yourself: do they really understand what a basket of goods should include? And more importantly, do they care about your grocery bill?