Are Your CDs/Investments Keeping Up With Inflation?

The short answer of course is likely NO!  The more interesting view is
how bad/good are they doing.  One rough measure of this is to look at
the EPI's Purchasing Power Conversion Table located near the midpoint
in "The EPI Reflects Basic Economic Change" document.

For example, if you bought a $10K CD in 2007 how much would it have to
have earned to keep pace with inflation?  Via the table the answer, as
of 2011, = $10,000 * 1.0846 = $10,846; ie., 8.46%

Right, where in the world could you have found an 8.46% CD in 2007!

For me the big picture is I redeemed or renewed:
 6 CDs in 2007 with all earning < the 8.46% inflation number - ouch;
18 CDs in 2008  "   15     "      >  "  4.44%     "       "    - a good year;
14 CDs in 2009  "     5     "      >  "  4.82%     "       "    - a bad year;
15 CDs in 2010  "     7     "      >  "  3.13%     "       "    - mixed year.

So how bad/good does your CD portfolio measure up?