Don't be surprised if you walk into the corner minimart one day soon and find that the corn dogs cost $1.50, instead of 99 cents.
This will have nothing to do with spiraling health-care costs, fuel prices or the federal debt.
Blame Steve Jobs instead.
The jaw-dropping profit he reported last week Apple netted $2.4 billion per month last quarter as iPad sales soared 183 percent has to come from somewhere.
Microsoft used to get grief for funneling all the profits of the computer industry to Redmond. Maybe that will happen again if Windows 8 and Nokia Windows phones soar. But now the vortex is in Cupertino, Calif.
Like millions of affluent people around the world, the minimart owner will buy an iPad this year. She'll justify the purchase because it seems like a business tool, like her smartphone and PC.
When she gushes about the amazing new gadget, the store's cashier will persuade her to buy another iPad for the business. The cashier will argue that productivity will improve because there are great apps for tracking inventory and the device will increase foot traffic by helping the store become more engaged with social media.
The store has spotty Wi-Fi and the owner is too busy to mess with the wireless setup, so she'll buy iPads with 3G cellular service, which start at $629 and have $15 to $25 per month data plans.
About the time the cashier begins sending tweets about two-for-$2 corn-dog specials, Apple will introduce an "S" model of the iPad that will be even more fantastic. The owner will buy one of those and give her husband the first one.
