The cost of living has skyrocketed across the United States in recent years, with 57% of American households facing difficulty affording usual expenses and 93% experiencing stress related to rising prices. This anxiety has persisted since inflation peaked in June 2022 at a staggering 9.1%, causing ongoing financial hardship among families as the Consumer Price Index remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
While inflation has cooled, its effects linger, particularly in states like Illinois where goods and services are about 1.3% costlier than the national average. Here, 53.2% of households reported challenges in meeting expenses, with a staggering 93.6% of adults citing stress from price hikes. The disparity is pronounced, as those in urban areas typically face substantially higher living costs than their rural counterparts.
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