Look up BLS inflation measures and the 'basket of goods'. You could spend years coming to an informed conclusion, and people have. Then look up the costs of patio furniture or computing equipment compared to 20 years ago. They decreased in price. It's an average, yo.
Also, if you don't trust broad consensus across economists, take a look at the free market. People are buying gov't treasuries. If they thought that inflation was higher than the interest rate, they wouldn't be buying them, right?
Energy and food prices are volatile, as they depend on exogenous factors. Try reading about droughts and wars. Your new car is more expensive in 2014 because it's safer, more fuel efficient and technologically superior in every way to your 1997 version.
Only the ignorant think the CPI reports are fake. Perhaps you should read up on the methodology of how it's calculated.
There is a whole world of finance that depends on a reasonable calculation of inflation rates. I suppose we are to believe the best financial minds on the planet are wrong in their bets, and you are right?
I've seen better arguments in the "bible says the earth is flat" threads.