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applegrove

(129,517 posts) Fri Nov 21, 2025, 07:40 AM Nov 21

Middle Class Is Buckling After Five Years of Inflation [View all]

Middle Class Is Buckling After Five Years of Inflation

November 21, 2025 at 7:27 am EST By Taegan Goddard 17 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2025/11/21/middle-class-is-buckling-after-five-years-of-inflation/

Wall Street Journal: “After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners thought life would be more affordable by now. Costs for goods and services are 25% above where they were in 2020. Even though the inflation rate is below its recent 2022 high, certain essentials like coffee, ground beef and car repairs are up markedly this year.”

31 replies

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Middle Class Is Buckling After Five Years of Inflation [View all] applegrove Nov 21 OP

Trickle down economics Henry203 Nov 21 #1

This. It might have gotten more noticeable, but this isn't a 5 year problem EdmondDantes_ Nov 21 #13

Two different economic models Henry203 Nov 21 #21

Plus that prosperity period also saw the civil rights movement EdmondDantes_ Nov 21 #23

Shorthand for "since the Pandemic" maxsolomon Nov 21 #26

Things have never been so good for the top 1%. sop Nov 21 #2

Ground beef is an essential? Eww Blues Heron Nov 21 #3

For some people, yes. haele Nov 21 #16

It's traditionally been a cheaper meat among beef. EdmondDantes_ Nov 21 #24

Nothing ever comes back down. Inflation creates a new normal every year. bucolic_frolic Nov 21 #4

Yup. Used to be that Canadians would put up with higher base prices than Americans. applegrove Nov 21 #5

Stores I shop now sell bananas individually -- like candy bars. nt allegorical oracle Nov 21 #8

I don't go there very often but Kroger-owned Turkey Hill Convenience Store locally bucolic_frolic Nov 21 #10

DEflation is worse than inflation Fiendish Thingy Nov 21 #17

That's the lesson these MAGA idiots can't fathom misanthrope Nov 21 #29

Inflation (hitting staples) + Wage Stagnation + Increasing Health Care Costs Prairie Gates Nov 21 #6

Exactly. These are costs to all of society not just the middle class. NoMoreRepugs Nov 21 #7

Trump and his fellow travelers don't care misanthrope Nov 21 #30

Wages Johnny2X2X Nov 21 #9

Extended periods of years? MichMan Nov 21 #15

We all had it better under Biden than Trump. W_HAMILTON Nov 21 #22

Any wage increases prompt prices to rise. That's why wages will never keep up with allegorical oracle Nov 21 #11

That is not an absolute truth Fiendish Thingy Nov 21 #19

I'm no conservative...and take umbrage. Of course wage increases are crucial to the middle allegorical oracle Nov 21 #20

Until Dems are in power and the court is expanded, there can only be attempts to stop the bleeding Fiendish Thingy Nov 21 #25

The CEO of Krogers Blue Full Moon Nov 21 #12

You pay more for less newdeal2 Nov 21 #14

My husband took me out to lunch yesterday for my birthday at a very nice restaurant. It was filled with people. Raftergirl Nov 21 #18

Most of the clothing stores have closed in my area. Trueblue Texan Nov 21 #27

We have plenty of stores, but I admit I'm very picky. I'm not a fan of fast fashion and would rather buy Raftergirl Nov 21 #31

That's the plan misanthrope Nov 21 #28