#inflation

#inflation

Given the inflationary forces at play in recent decades, achieving a seven-digit portfolio isn't what it once used to be. In fact, most personal finance experts recommend that baby boomers have, on average, around $900,000 saved for retirement in order to maintain most individual's lifestyles over the course of retirement. Of course, those planning some fancy vacations or spending money at a greater rate will need well over $1 million to fulfill these goals.

We cut the eggs in half so that it stretches. We used to give out a whole dozen of eggs. Now we cut the dozens in half so they each get a half a dozen. We're in Georgia, where Jennifer Deal has been operating this food pantry for more than a decade. Now, for the first time, she's running out of food.

Back in August, Spotify announced a price hike for Premium users in markets across South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. Now we hear that the Sweden-based music streaming company is preparing to raise subscription prices in the US as well. Citing three people familiar with the matter, the Financial Times reports that Spotify is preparing to raise subscription prices in the US in the first quarter of 2026 as it seeks to demonstrate sustained profitability.

Brunell helps readers understand why life feels increasingly unaffordable-and how Bitcoin can empower them to regain control and confidence. As housing, education, and everyday essentials rise faster than wages, Bitcoin Is for Everyone exposes the root cause: a broken monetary system. With clear, accessible storytelling, she explains how inflation and monetary manipulation have reshaped daily life and positions Bitcoin not as a trend, but as an innovation grounded in fairness and trust.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is planning to increase the price of shipping. The good news is, the changes won't affect your holiday packages and won't raise the price of stamps. The changes go into effect next year on January 18, pending a review by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The move will raise prices approximately 6.6% for Priority Mail, 5.1% for Priority Mail Express, 7.8% for USPS Ground Advantage, and 6% for Parcel Select.

The Trump White House "inherited this terrible inflation crisis from the Biden administration," Vance said.

One of the reasons people feel like they're not keeping up is because real average weekly wages fell during the Biden years because of the inflation, about $5,000. So it fell. However, the president is constantly saying prices have come down. Now, inflation is still 3% it's still too high! He continued: Now, oil prices, energy prices, there are certain things where they have come down, but when you keep saying prices are falling, that's not true

"We're going to be hitting 1.5% pretty soon," Trump told reporters Monday. "It's all coming down."

Saving money for retirement isn't enough. Sure, it's a stepping stone to success. But to accumulate a respectable amount of money for retirement, you need to do more than just keep building cash. You should plan to invest your money so it's able to grow over time. Remember, inflation is apt to erode the value of money over time. So you need to invest your retirement savings in a manner that can outpace it.

Soaring electric and utility bills nationwide are the new political bellwether for consumers heading into a pivotal 2026 midterm election cycle for the first time in recent history, replacing the typical hot-button items of fuel prices and grocery costs-most notably for eggs last year. While costly grid and severe weather upgrades have accounted for much of the price hikes of late, utility bills are projected to continue spiking for years to come because of the AI-driven data center boom and surging natural gas exports driving demand for new power generation and more fossil fuels.