If you’ve stepped into a grocery store, paid rent, or filled up your gas tank lately, you’ve likely had the same reaction: Why does everything still cost so much? Even as headlines report that inflation is “cooling,” many Americans are feeling anything but financial relief. In 2025, the Consumer Price Index might not be rising at the same breakneck pace we saw during the peak post-pandemic years, but the aftershocks are still rattling our bank accounts.
So what gives? If inflation is supposedly under control, why do things still feel out of reach? We’re breaking down the disconnect between the official data and your lived experience and why your paycheck still doesn’t seem to go as far as it once did.
Prices Went Up and Stayed There
One of the most misunderstood aspects of inflation is that it measures the rate of increase in prices, not whether prices are actually going down. When we say inflation is cooling, it simply means that prices are no longer rising as quickly—not that they’ve returned to what they used to be.
For example, if eggs shot up 30% in 2022 and rose another 5% in 2023, that smaller jump is technically a sign of inflation slowing. But you’re still paying significantly more than you were in 2021. And that extra cost hasn’t disappeared.
In many sectors, especially food, rent, and services, those price hikes have “stuck.” Businesses adjusted their pricing during high-inflation years, and many haven’t reversed course. Once the bar moves higher, it rarely drops all the way back down.
Wages Haven’t Kept Up
Yes, wages have grown in the past few years. But for many, those raises have barely kept pace with inflation and, in some cases, lagged far behind. In real terms (meaning adjusted for inflation), workers are still playing catch-up. If your salary went up 3%, but your rent and groceries went up 6%, you’re effectively earning less buying power than before.
This is especially painful for people in lower- to middle-income brackets, where necessities eat up a larger portion of take-home pay. Even with modest wage gains, the cost of basics (housing, transportation, food, and healthcare) leaves very little room to breathe.
Rent and Housing Prices Remain Stubbornly High
Housing is often the single largest monthly expense for Americans, and it’s not letting up. Even as mortgage rates began to cool in late 2024 and early 2025, housing prices haven’t fallen enough to make homeownership widely accessible again. Meanwhile, rents in many cities have plateaued at all-time highs after surging for years. Landlords rarely drop prices significantly once they’ve raised them.
For those who moved during peak inflation or had to renew leases recently, the new baseline is simply more expensive. And with housing demand still outpacing supply in many areas, there’s little relief in sight.
The Hidden Costs of Shrinkflation
Even when prices appear stable, consumers are still getting less for their money. Enter: shrinkflation. This sneaky form of inflation involves companies shrinking product sizes while keeping prices the same. A bag of chips that once held 12 ounces now holds 10. A box of cereal is just a little lighter than it used to be. The price tag hasn’t changed, but the value has.
Shrinkflation erodes your purchasing power in quiet ways. You might not notice it on the receipt, but over time, you’re spending more and getting less.
Services and “Experience” Inflation
It’s not just physical goods. Service prices have skyrocketed, too. Dining out, getting your hair done, hiring childcare, or booking a vacation now costs significantly more than it did just a few years ago.
Labor shortages, wage increases, and rising overhead costs have pushed service providers to raise prices across the board. And since many services are considered “non-negotiable” for busy families and professionals, the higher prices stick. In other words, even if you’re budgeting better and cutting back on luxuries, just living your life may still cost more than it used to.
Financial Fatigue Is Real
There’s also a psychological element to all of this. Call it “wallet fatigue.” After years of inflation, economic uncertainty, and cost-cutting, many Americans are simply worn out. Prices may be rising more slowly, but the damage is cumulative.
People are tired of having to do mental math every time they walk into a store. They’re frustrated that every small splurge feels like a big deal. And they’re disillusioned by the promise that things are “getting better,” even when their bank accounts suggest otherwise.
Financial stress, even in a slowing economy, still weighs heavily when the day-to-day feels unaffordable.
So What Can You Do?
While the macroeconomic factors may be out of your control, your personal finances aren’t. If things still feel tight, it’s not because you’re bad with money. It’s because you’re navigating a landscape that’s fundamentally changed.
Now might be the time to revisit your budget, re-evaluate expenses that have crept up, or look for new income opportunities, even if temporarily. Being proactive, even in small ways, can restore a sense of agency.
At the same time, it’s okay to acknowledge that this moment is difficult. You’re not imagining things. You’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong.
Headlines Don’t Match Experiences
Inflation might be “cooling” in the headlines, but the day-to-day experience of most Americans tells a different story. Prices have risen and stayed high, wages haven’t kept up, and even once-affordable comforts now feel like indulgences.
Understanding why things still feel expensive is the first step toward regaining control, and having compassion for yourself while you adapt to this new normal is just as important.
Have you felt the lingering effects of inflation in 2025? What’s been your biggest financial frustration lately, and how are you adjusting to rising costs?
Read More:
How to Beat Inflation – 10 Actionable Tips
Forget About Inflation: Here Are 10 Ways to Save Money On Groceries
Riley is an Arizona native with over nine years of writing experience. From personal finance to travel to digital marketing to pop culture, she’s written about everything under the sun. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outside, reading, or cuddling with her two corgis.
