US consumers remain unimpressed with this progress, however, because they remember what they were paying for things pre-pandemic. Used car prices are 34% higher, food prices are 26% higher and rent prices are 22% higher than in January 2020, according to our calculations using PCE data.
While these are some of the more extreme examples of recent price increases, the average basket of goods and services that most Americans buy in any given month is 17% more expensive than four years ago.
Just for shits and giggles people should take a look on job sites like “indeed” and do it without filtering for their specific profession. It’s disgusting, depressing, deflating, deranged, add your own D word if you like…
I have no “profession.” When I look for a new job the highest I see on offer is $25/hr and it’s usually some absolute nonsense “sign here to give your life to us, on call 24/7, blah blah blah.” Hell even a bunch of the degree required, experience required jobs go as low as $16/hr. It’s atrocious.