When I first arrived in the US on 9/1950, the cost of mailing a simple letter is 3 cents. Over the years, the cost of a letter gradually rises to over half a dollar however the speed of letter delivery also increased in the US. Even though not guaranteed, a letter mailed in the morning will generally  arrive next day anywhere in the US. However if you wish to make sure, you can mail it via the "express mail" which is guaranteed to arrive the next day before 6pm anywhere in the US. So, I have to do this for a letter recently using the express mail mode. Guess how much?  A COST OF 31 AND HALF DOLLARS! - some 1000 times more. 

Similarly, a cup of coffee in the Fall of 1950 costs 5 cents, now it costs almost $3.00 at a fast food store - that is a 60 fold increase. Is this because of the difference between government and private enterprise operations?