The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation

Middle-income Americans pessimistic about their financial future amid persistent inflation, analysis shows

Middle-income Americans are facing an economic hangover from the inflation of the last several years, and it has led to increased pessimism about their financial prospects, a new analysis finds.A report by Primerica found that in the third quarter of 2025, just 21% of middle-income Americans believe they'll be better off financially in the next year, while 34% believe they'll be worse off and 33% expect their situation to remain the same.Those f…

The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation

The Middle Class Is Buckling Under Almost Five Years of Persistent Inflation…

Middle Class showing signs of buckling under five years of persistent inflation

America’s middle class is weary. After nearly five years of high prices, many middle-class earners thought life would be more affordable by now. Costs for

Middle Class Buckling Under Five Years of Inflation

Workers growing tired of economy in which everything seems to get more expensive.

Corporate earnings show the middle-class is tightening spending

America’s middle class is straining under the weight of five years of elevated prices, with costs for goods and services now 25% higher than in 2020, The Wall Street Journal writes.  Even as headline inflation cools, essentials—from groceries to car repairs—keep climbing, leaving many households feeling like their wages and savings can’t keep pace. Pew defines the middle class broadly as households earning roughly $66,000 to $200,000, but across…