Liberal Forum

SouthernFried » Today, 3:11 am » wrote: ↑

Today, 3:11 am

I'm not having trouble affording anything. Gas is now trending back down. Hell, nothing out there is any more expensive than it was during the Biden regime. And in the Bidumb regime, the stock market was **** on top of it all. 
 

Over the last six years, inflation in the United States has followed a volatile, "rollercoaster" trajectory, peaking at a 40-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 before cooling significantly and experiencing a recent commodity-driven resurgence to 4.2% as of mid-2026. Driven by pandemic complications, geopolitical disruptions, and fluctuating supply chains, the cumulative impact has resulted in a roughly 28.6% drop in the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar since 2020.A breakdown of the specific eras and economic indicators across this timeframe illustrates the shifting landscape:Chronological Phases (2020 – 2026)2020: The Pandemic BaselineEconomic shutdowns caused demand for travel and energy to plummet.Annual inflation remained subdued at 1.2% to 1.4%, well below the Federal Reserve's target.2021: The Initial SurgePrices jumped rapidly to finish the year at 4.7% (with some months crossing 7%).Widespread supply chain bottlenecks, global shipping delays, and massive government stimulus fueled intense consumer demand.2022: The 40-Year PeakAverage annual inflation reached 8.0%, spiking specifically to a historic 9.1% in June 2022.The Russia-Ukraine war triggered global energy and food shocks, while domestic grocery prices soared by 20% to 25%.The Federal Reserve abandoned its "transitory" stance and began a aggressive tightening cycle, raising interest rates from near-zero to over 4% by year-end.2023 – 2024: The Cooling Period (Disinflation)Inflation cooled significantly down to 4.1% in 2023 and 2.9% by late 2024.Post-pandemic supply chain stresses fully dissipated, and high interest rates began to curb consumer borrowing and spending.2025: StabilizationInflation averaged 2.7%, hovering closer to the Fed's ultimate 2.0% target.Economic metrics began adjusting to the "new normal" of elevated living expenses.Mid-2026: The Energy Shock ResurgenceThe annual inflation rate has accelerated for three consecutive months, hitting 4.2% in May 2026.This latest spike is largely a headline metric inflation driven by an energy shock from conflicts involving Iran, causing retail gasoline prices to jump 40.5%.Core inflation (excluding food and energy) remains more controlled at 2.9%.Broad Economic Metrics SummaryMetric / Indicator6-Year Trend & ImpactPurchasing PowerA consumer basket costing $100 in 2020 requires roughly $128.67 to buy today.Core CommoditiesGrocery and gasoline prices have been the most volatile, fluctuating dramatically based on geopolitics.Shelter & HousingShelter costs remained stubbornly high and sticky, ticking up to 3.4% annually by May 2026.Real EarningsThough wages grew roughly 4% annually, higher prices caused inflation-adjusted "real" wages to decline for long stretches.Monetary ResponseThe Federal Reserve pushed benchmark interest rates above 5%, driving average mortgage rates from 3% to over 7%.Would you like to examine how specific sectors, such as housing markets or food costs, compared during this period, or look closer at the Federal Reserve's rate decisions?

Unlike you, I am not a partisan-based hack. I will gladly admit that I'm not happy with the cost of living, etc... But I know for a fact that Trump is still a ten-fold better choice than any of the **** Democrats have to field.

https://i.postimg.cc/pdQzFGj0/dunning-kruger-effect.jpg