The real cost of housing is distorted though when house prices keep going up. In many cases, if you take into account the value increase of housing, it is actua

The real cost of housing is distorted though when house prices keep going up. In many cases, if you take into account the value increase of housing, it is actually opposite of what you claim. People don't spend anything on housing, because they get back whatever they put pay for the house in terms of value increase of the property. I think it would be more fair to look at, how much does it cost to build a house, and divide that cost on the time it may be used. We should not really add the price of property to the equation. If one does this I will bet that consumer goods make up a much bigger part of the economy than you think.