Understand
Americans struggle to survive amid rising costs and high inflation
Overview
Rising inflation and high energy prices in the United States are creating an affordability crisis, forcing everyday Americans to take on extra jobs, change their spending habits, and cut back on necessities and travel.
Key points
- Inflation rose to 3.7% over the 12 months up to September, driven largely by high energy and gasoline prices.
- Kathryn Vaughn, a Tennessee teacher and mother of two, works three jobs and sells items online to make ends meet amidst soaring living costs.
- Punal Bhavsar, a 39-year-old in California, has delayed plans to buy a home due to high interest rates and expensive premium gasoline.
- Caitlin Green and her husband in Utah saw their monthly grocery bill double from $200 to $400, leading them to substitute ground beef with cheaper poultry.
- A September Gallup Economic Confidence Index put Americans' economic assessment at -40, while a Guardian survey indicated 95% view the US as being in an affordability crisis.