Inflation and Economic Security: Difference between revisions
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Created page with "=====Inflation and Economic Security===== [https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/inflation-and-cost-of-living.html | OECD | OECD | 2026] Inflation affects economic security by raising the cost of basic needs such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, health care, and debt payments faster than many households can adjust. =====Cost of Living and Household Stability===== [https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/inflation-key-measures-to-understand | Center on Bud..." |
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= | |title=Inflation, Affordability, and Economic Security – WikiDemocracy | ||
= | |description=An overview of inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, food insecurity, housing costs, wages, health care expenses, household debt, poverty, and policies designed to strengthen economic security. | ||
= | |keywords=inflation, cost of living, economic security, affordability, food insecurity, housing costs, household debt, minimum wage, wages, poverty, health care costs, social safety net, consumer prices, financial security | ||
= | |image=File:Placeholder.png | ||
= | |image_width=300 | ||
= | |image_height=200 | ||
= | |type=article}} | ||
[[Category:Inflation]] | |||
[ | [[Category:Economic Security]] | ||
[[Category:Cost of Living]] | |||
[[Category:Poverty]] | |||
[[Category:Food Security]] | |||
[[Category:Housing Affordability]] | |||
[[Category:Household Finance]] | |||
[[Category:Wages and Employment]] | |||
[[Category:Health Care Costs]] | |||
[[Category:Social Safety Net]] | |||
**NOTOC** | |||
== | == Inflation, Affordability, and Economic Security == | ||
Inflation and economic security are closely connected because changes in prices directly affect what households can afford. When the cost of food, housing, transportation, utilities, health care, and other necessities rises faster than income, families lose purchasing power even when they remain employed. | |||
Official inflation rates measure how quickly prices are changing, but they do not always reflect the full experience of individual households. A decline in the inflation rate means that prices are rising more slowly; it does not mean that prices have returned to earlier levels. Families may therefore continue to experience financial strain long after headline inflation has begun to fall. | |||
Economic security depends not only on controlling inflation but also on wages, employment stability, access to affordable housing and health care, manageable debt, savings, public benefits, and the ability to withstand emergencies. | |||
=== | === Understanding Inflation and the Cost of Living === | ||
Inflation is a sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services. It is commonly measured through indicators such as the Consumer Price Index, the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index, producer price indexes, and internationally comparable inflation measures. | |||
Headline inflation includes all major categories of consumer spending. Core inflation generally excludes food and energy because those prices can fluctuate sharply. Food and energy costs remain especially important to households because they are necessities and often consume a larger share of income among low- and moderate-income families. | |||
Several forces can contribute to inflation, including: | |||
* Supply-chain disruptions | |||
* Energy-price shocks | |||
* Food shortages | |||
* Housing shortages | |||
* Labor-market pressures | |||
* Climate-related agricultural losses | |||
* Wars and geopolitical instability | |||
* Tariffs and trade restrictions | |||
* Changes in consumer demand | |||
* Corporate pricing and market concentration | |||
* Monetary and fiscal policy | |||
The effects of inflation are uneven. Higher-income households may be better able to absorb price increases, shift spending, refinance debt, or draw on savings. Lower-income households generally spend a larger portion of their income on necessities and have fewer resources available when prices rise. | |||
=== | === Why Lower Inflation Does Not Mean Lower Prices === | ||
Inflation measures the rate at which prices are increasing. When inflation falls from a high level to a lower level, prices usually continue to rise, but at a slower pace. | |||
For example, a household may face a sharp rise in grocery, rent, transportation, and insurance costs over several years. Even after annual inflation moderates, the household must still pay the accumulated higher prices. Unless wages and benefits rise enough to compensate, the family may remain worse off in real purchasing-power terms. | |||
This distinction explains why public dissatisfaction can remain high during periods when economic statistics show that inflation is cooling. Household perceptions are influenced by the actual prices people pay, the frequency of purchases, changes in wages, debt payments, and whether families have savings left after meeting basic expenses. | |||
Measures of consumer confidence and inflation expectations can also influence economic behavior. When people expect prices to continue rising, they may change spending, saving, borrowing, wage demands, and business decisions. | |||
=== | === Food Security, Hunger, and Grocery Costs === | ||
Food affordability is one of the clearest links between inflation and household hardship. Rising grocery prices can force families to buy less food, purchase cheaper and less nutritious products, skip meals, rely on food banks, or reduce spending on rent, medicine, transportation, and utilities. | |||
Food insecurity refers to limited or uncertain access to enough food for an active and healthy life. It can occur even when a household is not officially classified as poor. Families may experience food insecurity because of low wages, unstable employment, high rent, disability, medical expenses, transportation barriers, or inadequate access to assistance programs. | |||
Food-price inflation can result from: | |||
* Drought, flooding, heat, and other climate events | |||
* Higher fuel, fertilizer, and transportation costs | |||
* Agricultural disease and crop losses | |||
* Armed conflict and displacement | |||
* Supply-chain interruptions | |||
* Commodity-price speculation | |||
* Export restrictions | |||
* Currency depreciation | |||
* Labor shortages | |||
* Concentration within food-processing and retail industries | |||
Food insecurity is distributed unevenly across racial, ethnic, geographic, and income groups. Rural communities, low-income urban neighborhoods, older adults, disabled people, immigrants, and households with children may face distinctive barriers to obtaining affordable food. | |||
Food banks and emergency food programs can reduce immediate hardship, but access depends on transportation, location, operating hours, eligibility rules, and the availability of sufficient supplies. Public programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can reduce hunger and help stabilize household budgets. | |||
=== | === Housing Affordability and Rent Burdens === | ||
Housing is generally the largest household expense. Rising rents, mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance premiums, utility bills, and maintenance costs can place families under severe financial pressure. | |||
A household is commonly described as cost-burdened when a large share of its income is devoted to housing. Extremely rent-burdened households may have too little money remaining for food, health care, transportation, education, child care, debt payments, and savings. | |||
Housing insecurity can include: | |||
* Difficulty paying rent or a mortgage | |||
* Frequent moves | |||
* Overcrowding | |||
* Living in unsafe or inadequate housing | |||
* Eviction | |||
* Foreclosure | |||
* Temporary lodging | |||
* Homelessness | |||
Housing affordability is affected by the supply of homes, construction costs, zoning, land prices, interest rates, investor activity, population growth, wages, and public housing policy. Areas with severe housing shortages can experience rapid rent increases even when broader inflation begins to moderate. | |||
Rental assistance, housing vouchers, affordable housing construction, tenant protections, zoning reform, and homelessness-prevention programs are among the policies used to address housing insecurity. Debates continue over rent controls and rent freezes, particularly regarding their effects on current tenants, future housing construction, and the maintenance of existing properties. | |||
=== | === Wages, Employment, and Purchasing Power === | ||
Employment alone does not guarantee economic security. The stability, hours, benefits, working conditions, and purchasing power of a job all matter. | |||
Real wages are wages adjusted for inflation. A worker may receive a nominal pay increase but still lose purchasing power when prices rise faster than earnings. Low-wage workers are especially vulnerable because basic expenses consume most of their income. | |||
Minimum-wage policies seek to establish a wage floor. Supporters argue that higher minimum wages reduce poverty, strengthen consumer purchasing power, and prevent wages from falling too far behind productivity and living costs. Critics may raise concerns about employment effects, business expenses, and regional differences in costs. | |||
Indexing minimum wages to inflation can prevent their purchasing power from steadily declining. However, inflation adjustments alone may not ensure that a wage is sufficient to cover housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and other essential costs. | |||
Employment stability is also important. Irregular schedules, temporary work, involuntary part-time employment, layoffs, and unpredictable income can make it difficult for families to budget or qualify for housing and credit. | |||
=== | === Health Care Costs and Insurance === | ||
Health care expenses are a major source of household financial insecurity. Premiums, deductibles, prescription drugs, medical bills, dental care, long-term care, and services not covered by insurance can consume substantial portions of family income. | |||
People may delay or avoid treatment because of cost. Medical debt can damage credit, reduce savings, and make it harder to pay for housing and other necessities. | |||
Health insurance programs can protect households from some financial risk, but affordability depends on: | |||
* Premium levels | |||
* Deductibles | |||
* Copayments | |||
* Provider networks | |||
* Prescription-drug coverage | |||
* Income-based assistance | |||
* Eligibility rules | |||
* Coverage for long-term services and supports | |||
Medicaid is particularly important for low-income households, older adults, and people with disabilities. Medicare provides essential coverage for older adults and certain disabled people, but beneficiaries may still face premiums and significant out-of-pocket expenses. | |||
Employer-sponsored insurance can also place pressure on family budgets when premiums and deductibles grow faster than wages and general inflation. | |||
=== | === Household Debt, Savings, and Financial Distress === | ||
===== | Households often use credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, student loans, mortgages, or high-cost lending to manage expenses. Borrowing can help families handle temporary needs, but persistent reliance on debt may indicate that income is insufficient to cover basic costs. | ||
Financial distress can include: | |||
* Missed or late bill payments | |||
* Credit-card balances carried from month to month | |||
* Loan delinquency | |||
* Overdraft fees | |||
* Utility shutoff risk | |||
* Eviction or foreclosure risk | |||
* Debt collection | |||
* Inability to cover emergency expenses | |||
Higher interest rates can make mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, and business borrowing more expensive. Monetary policy intended to control inflation may therefore impose additional short-term costs on borrowers and can weaken employment if economic activity slows. | |||
Emergency savings provide a buffer against medical bills, job loss, car repairs, home repairs, and other unexpected costs. Many households, however, have little or no emergency savings because most of their income is already required for routine expenses. | |||
Wealth is different from income. Income is the flow of money received over time, while wealth reflects accumulated assets minus debts. Households with similar incomes can have very different levels of financial resilience depending on homeownership, savings, retirement accounts, inheritances, and debt. | |||
=== Poverty, Inequality, and Unequal Economic Effects === | |||
Inflation does not affect all households in the same way. Families with lower incomes generally spend more of their income on food, rent, transportation, and utilities. They may also have less access to affordable credit and fewer savings to absorb price shocks. | |||
Economic inequality can create what is sometimes described as a K-shaped economy. In such an economy, wealthier households may benefit from rising asset values and maintain strong spending, while lower-income households experience depleted savings, increased debt, and difficulty paying for necessities. | |||
Racial and ethnic wealth gaps can intensify these differences. Historical discrimination in housing, employment, education, lending, and access to wealth-building opportunities has left some groups with fewer financial resources during economic downturns or inflationary periods. | |||
Traditional poverty measures provide useful information but may not fully reflect regional differences in rent, child care, transportation, and medical costs. Supplemental poverty measures and family-budget calculators attempt to provide a broader picture of the resources required for economic security. | |||
Many households earn more than the official poverty threshold but still cannot consistently afford basic necessities. These families may not qualify for some assistance programs even though they remain financially vulnerable. | |||
=== Social Security, Retirement, and Older Adults === | |||
Inflation is especially important for retirees and people living on fixed incomes. Social Security benefits include cost-of-living adjustments designed to protect beneficiaries from declining purchasing power. | |||
However, a general inflation adjustment may not fully match the spending patterns of older adults. Retirees may spend a greater share of income on housing, health care, prescription drugs, utilities, and long-term care. | |||
Older adults who rent can face particular insecurity because rent increases may outpace benefit adjustments. People who enter retirement with limited savings, debt, or no pension are more vulnerable to inflation and unexpected expenses. | |||
Retirement security depends on a combination of Social Security, pensions, personal savings, home equity, health coverage, and manageable living costs. Caregiving responsibilities and long-term care needs can further reduce financial stability. | |||
=== Children, Families, and the Cost of Care === | |||
Families with children face major expenses for housing, food, health care, transportation, education, and child care. Child-care costs can consume a large share of household income and may prevent parents from entering or remaining in the workforce. | |||
Tax credits and income-support programs can help families meet basic needs. The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit are designed to supplement income and reduce poverty among working families. | |||
Economic insecurity during childhood can affect nutrition, housing stability, educational achievement, health, and long-term opportunity. Policies that increase family income or reduce the cost of essential services may therefore produce benefits that extend beyond immediate household consumption. | |||
=== Energy, Transportation, and Utility Costs === | |||
Energy prices influence household budgets directly through gasoline, electricity, heating, and cooling costs. They also affect the cost of transporting and producing goods, contributing to broader inflation. | |||
Households in rural or automobile-dependent areas may be especially vulnerable to fuel-price increases. Low-income families may live in less energy-efficient housing and face higher utility costs relative to income. | |||
Energy-assistance programs can help eligible households manage heating and cooling expenses. Investments in energy efficiency, public transportation, renewable energy, and resilient infrastructure may reduce long-term exposure to volatile fuel prices. | |||
Climate-related heat, storms, droughts, and wildfires can increase household energy expenses while disrupting food production, housing, insurance markets, and employment. | |||
=== Government Policy and the Social Safety Net === | |||
Governments respond to inflation and economic insecurity through a combination of monetary, fiscal, regulatory, labor, housing, health, and social policies. | |||
Monetary policy can reduce inflation by raising interest rates and slowing demand. This approach may help stabilize prices, but it can also increase borrowing costs and weaken employment. | |||
Fiscal and social policies can provide more targeted support through: | |||
* Food assistance | |||
* Rental assistance | |||
* Unemployment insurance | |||
* Health coverage | |||
* Energy assistance | |||
* Refundable tax credits | |||
* Social Security | |||
* Disability benefits | |||
* Minimum-wage laws | |||
* Child-care assistance | |||
* Emergency cash support | |||
Well-designed assistance can protect vulnerable households without broadly stimulating demand. Policymakers must consider program eligibility, administrative access, benefit levels, geographic cost differences, and whether assistance reaches people experiencing the greatest hardship. | |||
Cuts to food, health, housing, or income-support programs can increase poverty and hardship, particularly during periods of high prices or weak employment. | |||
=== Measuring Economic Security === | |||
No single statistic fully measures economic security. A complete assessment may include: | |||
* Inflation and consumer prices | |||
* Real wages | |||
* Employment and unemployment | |||
* Household income | |||
* Poverty rates | |||
* Food insecurity | |||
* Housing-cost burdens | |||
* Medical debt | |||
* Credit-card and loan delinquency | |||
* Emergency savings | |||
* Consumer confidence | |||
* Wealth and debt | |||
* Access to public benefits | |||
Official surveys and administrative data are essential for understanding hardship. Reducing or ending long-running data collections can make it harder to identify trends, compare demographic groups, evaluate public programs, and direct resources effectively. | |||
International databases also allow researchers to compare inflation, food prices, poverty, wages, and social protection across countries. Such comparisons show that the effects of inflation depend on economic structure, government policy, household income, and the strength of public institutions. | |||
=== International Dimensions of Inflation and Economic Security === | |||
Inflation and affordability are global issues. Countries experience different price pressures depending on exchange rates, energy dependence, food imports, public debt, climate conditions, conflict, and monetary policy. | |||
Households in lower-income countries often spend a larger share of income on food and fuel. As a result, global commodity-price shocks can produce severe increases in hunger and poverty. | |||
Currency depreciation can make imported food, fuel, medicine, machinery, and fertilizer more expensive. Governments may respond through subsidies, price controls, cash transfers, interest-rate changes, or trade measures. | |||
International organizations track inflation, hunger, poverty, wages, and social protection. Their research shows that food, energy, and climate shocks can spread across borders through trade, commodity markets, migration, and financial systems. | |||
=== Policy Approaches to Greater Affordability === | |||
Policies intended to improve affordability can be evaluated by asking: | |||
* Which households receive the greatest benefit? | |||
* Does the policy reduce the cost of an essential need? | |||
* Does it raise household income or purchasing power? | |||
* Is the assistance temporary or long term? | |||
* Does it address a shortage of housing, labor, food, or energy? | |||
* Could it unintentionally increase prices elsewhere? | |||
* Is the program simple enough for eligible households to access? | |||
* How will it be funded? | |||
* Does it improve resilience against future shocks? | |||
Possible approaches include increasing housing supply, raising and indexing wage floors, strengthening competition, reducing health care costs, expanding tax credits, protecting food assistance, improving public transportation, supporting affordable child care, and making social programs easier to access. | |||
There is no single solution because household insecurity results from the interaction of prices, wages, housing, health, debt, employment, and public policy. | |||
=== Conclusion === | |||
Inflation is more than a change in an economic index. It affects whether people can afford food, housing, medicine, transportation, utilities, education, and retirement. | |||
A lower inflation rate can reduce the speed of future price increases, but it does not reverse the higher costs households have already absorbed. Lasting economic security therefore requires both price stability and sufficient household resources. | |||
Strong wages, stable employment, affordable housing and health care, manageable debt, emergency savings, reliable public data, and effective social protections all contribute to financial resilience. Policies are most effective when they recognize that inflation affects households differently and direct assistance toward those facing the greatest economic pressure. | |||
**TOC** | |||
=== | === Inflation and Cost of Living === | ||
===== | =====Economic Survey 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.knbs.or.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2026-Economic-Survey.pdf | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics | KNBS | April 30, 2026] | ||
This official survey provides economic data for Kenya, including inflation, production, employment, and household-relevant indicators. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: January 2026 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2026/03/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-11-march-2026.html | OECD Staff | OECD | March 11, 2026] | ||
This statistical release tracks falling but still significant inflation pressures across OECD countries, with implications for household purchasing power. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: December 2025 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2026/02/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-9-february-2026.html | OECD Staff | OECD | February 9, 2026] | ||
This OECD release tracks headline, food, core, and energy inflation across member countries. | |||
===== | =====The Risk of Higher U.S. Inflation in 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.piie.com/blogs/realtime-economics/2026/risk-higher-us-inflation-2026 | Peterson Institute Staff | Peterson Institute for International Economics | January 20, 2026] | ||
This article analyzes risks that inflation could remain elevated, including service costs and policy pressures. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Inflation: Key Measures to Understand===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy/inflation-key-measures-to-understand | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Staff | CBPP | January 16, 2026] | ||
This explainer defines key inflation measures and explains how price changes affect households, policy, and economic stability. | |||
===== | =====Inflation Cooled Slightly in December===== | ||
[https:// | [https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-federal-reserve-ed245660d83628e9ff3df1988bdf6d00 | AP Staff | Associated Press | January 13, 2026] | ||
This article reports on easing but still elevated inflation, showing why families may still feel pressure even when inflation rates decline. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: November 2025 Update===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2026/01/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-12-january-2026.html | OECD Staff | OECD | January 12, 2026] | ||
This OECD update shows how headline, food, and energy inflation shifted across countries at the end of 2025. | |||
===== | =====Economic Bulletin Issue 2, 2026===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/html/eb202602.en.html | European Central Bank Staff | European Central Bank | 2026] | ||
This bulletin discusses inflation projections, energy costs, wage pressures, and household demand. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Consumer Price Inflation and Household Budgets===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/cpi/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This official CPI page provides the basic data used to measure how prices change for consumers. | |||
===== | =====Pew Research Economy and Work===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/economy-work/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | 2026] | ||
This collection includes surveys on inflation concerns, family finances, work, and economic expectations. | |||
=====Inflation | =====IMF Inflation Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/inflation | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | 2026] | ||
This topic page provides IMF research and analysis on inflation trends and policy responses. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Sentiment===== | ||
[https:// | [https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/ | University of Michigan Staff | University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers | 2026] | ||
This survey tracks how households feel about inflation, income, prices, and the economy. | |||
===== | =====Conference Board Consumer Confidence===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.conference-board.org/topics/consumer-confidence | Conference Board Staff | The Conference Board | 2026] | ||
This index measures consumer expectations and confidence, which often reflect inflation and economic insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Gallup Economy and Personal Finance===== | ||
[https:// | [https://news.gallup.com/poll/1609/consumer-views-economy.aspx | Gallup Staff | Gallup | 2026] | ||
This polling collection tracks public views of inflation, finances, and economic conditions. | |||
=====Inflation | =====NBER Inflation Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nber.org/research/inflation | NBER Staff | National Bureau of Economic Research | 2026] | ||
This research collection includes academic work on inflation causes, effects, and policy responses. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Consumer Price Inflation in the Euro Area===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/macroeconomic_and_sectoral/hicp/html/index.en.html | European Central Bank Staff | European Central Bank | 2026] | ||
This data page tracks euro area consumer inflation by category. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Eurostat Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/hicp | Eurostat Staff | Eurostat | 2026] | ||
This official data source tracks harmonized consumer price inflation across Europe. | |||
===== | =====Canada Consumer Price Index===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/type/data?text=consumer%20price%20index | Statistics Canada Staff | Statistics Canada | 2026] | ||
This source tracks Canadian inflation and consumer price changes. | |||
===== | =====New Zealand Consumers Price Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/consumers-price-index-cpi/ | Stats NZ Staff | Stats NZ | 2026] | ||
This official indicator tracks inflation and household price pressures in New Zealand. | |||
===== | =====India Consumer Price Index===== | ||
[https:// | [https://mospi.gov.in/ | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Staff | Government of India | 2026] | ||
This official site provides inflation data for India, including food inflation. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Philippines Inflation Reports===== | ||
[https:// | [https://psa.gov.ph/price-indices/cpi-ir | Philippine Statistics Authority Staff | PSA | 2026] | ||
This official page tracks inflation and consumer price changes in the Philippines. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Brazil Inflation Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ibge.gov.br/en/statistics/economic/prices-and-costs.html | IBGE Staff | Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics | 2026] | ||
This source provides consumer price data for Brazil. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Mexico Inflation Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.inegi.org.mx/temas/inpc/ | INEGI Staff | INEGI | 2026] | ||
This official source tracks Mexico's consumer price index and inflation trends. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Argentina Inflation Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.indec.gob.ar/indec/web/Nivel4-Tema-3-5-31 | INDEC Staff | INDEC | 2026] | ||
This official page tracks consumer prices in Argentina, where inflation has major effects on household security. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Global Inflation Database===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/research/brief/inflation-database | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This database provides cross-country inflation data for comparing cost-of-living pressures. | |||
===== | =====OECD Data: Consumer Price Indices===== | ||
[https:// | [https://data.oecd.org/price/inflation-cpi.htm | OECD Staff | OECD Data | 2026] | ||
This data page provides comparable CPI inflation rates across OECD countries. | |||
=====Inflation | =====IMF DataMapper Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PCPIPCH@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | 2026] | ||
This IMF data tool compares inflation rates across countries and regions. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Our World in Data Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ourworldindata.org/inflation | Our World in Data Staff | Our World in Data | 2026] | ||
This article and dataset provide long-term inflation trends and international comparisons. | |||
===== | =====Institute for Government Cost of Living===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ | Institute for Government Staff | Institute for Government | 2026] | ||
This source provides policy analysis on government responses to inflation and household costs. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation and Democracy===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/global/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | 2026] | ||
This research area includes global surveys on economic dissatisfaction, inflation concerns, and political trust. | |||
===== | =====Cost of Living and Political Attitudes===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ipsos.com/en | Ipsos Staff | Ipsos | 2026] | ||
This survey research tracks public opinion on inflation, affordability, and economic confidence. | |||
===== | =====Trade, Tariffs, and Consumer Prices===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.piie.com/research/trade-and-investment-policy-watch | Peterson Institute Staff | Peterson Institute for International Economics | 2026] | ||
This research explains how trade policy and tariffs can affect prices and household purchasing power. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Supply Chains and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/policy/gscpi#/overview | New York Fed Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 2026] | ||
This index tracks global supply-chain pressure, a factor in inflation. | |||
===== | =====Inflation Expectations and Household Decisions===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/sce | New York Fed Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 2026] | ||
This survey tracks household expectations for inflation, income, spending, and credit access. | |||
===== | =====Survey of Consumer Expectations===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/sce#/ | New York Fed Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 2026] | ||
This monthly survey shows how households expect inflation and income to change. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Small Business Inflation Pressures===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nfib.com/surveys/small-business-economic-trends/ | NFIB Staff | National Federation of Independent Business | 2026] | ||
This survey tracks small business costs, prices, labor shortages, and inflation expectations. | |||
===== | =====Producer Price Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/ppi/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This index measures prices received by producers and helps explain future consumer price pressures. | |||
===== | =====Import and Export Price Indexes===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.bls.gov/mxp/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks import prices, which can affect consumer inflation. | |||
===== | =====Real Average Hourly Earnings===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This release measures whether paychecks are gaining or losing purchasing power after inflation. | |||
===== | =====Ipsos Cost of Living Monitor 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ipsos.com/en/ipsos-cost-living-monitor-2025 | Ipsos Staff | Ipsos | November 20, 2025] | ||
This global survey reports that many people expect inflation to rise and continue to worry about household affordability. | |||
===== | =====KFF/New York Times 2025 Survey of Immigrants===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/kff-new-york-times-2025-survey-of-immigrants-political-implications-of-immigrant-voters-views-on-immigration-enforcement/ | KFF and New York Times Staff | KFF | November 18, 2025] | ||
This survey includes immigrant voters' views on inflation, tariffs, and economic issues. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Why Inflation Expectations Are Important to Policymakers===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2025/nov/why-inflation-expectations-are-important-to-policymakers | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | November 12, 2025] | ||
This explainer shows why household and business expectations can influence future inflation and economic decision-making. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: September 2025 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2025/11/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-5-november-2025.html | OECD Staff | OECD | November 5, 2025] | ||
This OECD release reports that headline inflation remained broadly stable but still elevated across many countries. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: July 2025 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2025/09/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-8-september-2025.html | OECD Staff | OECD | September 8, 2025] | ||
This OECD release tracks inflation across member countries and shows how price pressures remained persistent through mid-2025. | |||
=====Inflation | =====The Dynamics of Long-Run Inflation Expectations===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.stlouisfed.org/-/media/project/frbstl/stlouisfed/publications/review/pdfs/2025/sep/dynamics-of-long-run-inflation-expectations-market-based-perspective.pdf | Anna Cole, Julian Kozlowski, Joseph Martorana | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review | September 2025] | ||
This paper examines market-based measures of long-run inflation expectations. | |||
=====Inflation | =====If Inflation Is Down, Why Does Life Still Feel Expensive?===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ieakenya.or.ke/blog/if-inflation-is-down-why-does-life-still-feel-expensive/ | Institute of Economic Affairs Kenya Staff | IEA Kenya | July 9, 2025] | ||
This article explains why lower inflation rates do not necessarily mean prices have become affordable for households. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: May 2025 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2025/07/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-3-july-2025.html | OECD Staff | OECD | July 3, 2025] | ||
This release shows that inflation had slowed from its peak but price levels remained much higher than before the pandemic. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: April 2025 Update===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2025/06/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-5-june-2025.html | OECD Staff | OECD | June 5, 2025] | ||
This OECD update reports stable but elevated inflation, highlighting continuing pressure on consumers. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Economic Experts Survey: Inflation Rates Expected to Rise Worldwide===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ifo.de/en/facts/2025-04-09/economic-experts-survey-experts-expect-inflation-rates-rise-worldwide | ifo Institute Staff | ifo Institute | April 9, 2025] | ||
This survey reports expert expectations for global inflation, showing how persistent price pressure can affect planning and security. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Breakeven Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://fredblog.stlouisfed.org/2025/03/breakeven-inflation/ | FRED Blog Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | March 24, 2025] | ||
This article explains market-based inflation expectations and why they matter for economic planning. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: January 2025 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/data/insights/statistical-releases/2025/03/consumer-prices-oecd-updated-5-march-2025.html | OECD Staff | OECD | March 5, 2025] | ||
This release reports inflation levels across OECD countries at the start of 2025 and tracks food, energy, and headline price changes. | |||
===== | =====Americans Continue to View Several Economic Issues as Top National Problems===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2025/02/20/americans-continue-to-view-several-economic-issues-as-top-national-problems/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | February 20, 2025] | ||
This article reports that inflation remained a top concern for Americans, alongside other economic pressures. | |||
===== | =====Improving Household Financial Security and Upward Mobility===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/events/improving-household-financial-security-and-upward-mobility-insights-effective-policy-and | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | 2025] | ||
This event page discusses policy strategies for helping families manage inflation, basic needs, and financial instability. | |||
=====Inflation | =====The Changing Drivers of Inflation: The Case of Food===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954349X25001602 | A. Bernardina | ScienceDirect | 2025] | ||
This article reviews how supply chains, energy, climate shocks, and war have driven food inflation. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Africa's Inflation Among Region's Most Urgent Challenges===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2022/10/20/africas-inflation-among-regions-most-urgent-challenges | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | October 20, 2022] | ||
This IMF article explains how food and energy inflation hit African households especially hard because they spend a large share of income on necessities. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation and Corporate Profits===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/blog/corporate-profits-have-contributed-disproportionately-to-inflation-how-should-policymakers-respond/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2022] | ||
This article explains the debate over corporate profits, markups, and inflation. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Market Power and Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://rooseveltinstitute.org/publications/prices-profits-and-power/ | Roosevelt Institute Staff | Roosevelt Institute | 2022] | ||
This report examines how concentrated corporate power may affect prices and inflation. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Understanding India's Food Inflation Through the Lens of Demand and Supply===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.elibrary.imf.org/display/book/9781513541259/ch004.xml | R. Anand et al. | IMF eLibrary | 2014] | ||
This chapter examines food inflation drivers in India and the links between demand, supply, and household welfare. | |||
=== | === Food Security, Hunger, and Food Prices === | ||
===== | =====Trump Cut to Food Security Survey Could Make Measuring U.S. Hunger Harder===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-cut-food-security-survey-could-make-measuring-us-hunger-harder-2026-07-09/ | Reuters Staff | Reuters | July 9, 2026] | ||
A Reuters report explains how ending a long-running federal food security survey could make it harder to measure hunger, especially as inflation and SNAP cuts continue to affect household economic security. | |||
===== | =====Half of Americans Struggle to Afford Groceries and Gas, Poll Finds===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/07/cost-of-living-poll-groceries-gas | Michael Sainato | The Guardian | July 7, 2026] | ||
This article reports on polling showing that many Americans see affordability as a crisis, with groceries, gasoline, debt, and wage pressure shaping household insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Food Industry Workers Skipping Meals===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.foodandwine.com/61-percent-of-restaurant-workers-skip-meals-12012733 | Food & Wine Staff | Food & Wine | July 2026] | ||
This article reports that many restaurant workers face food insecurity despite working in the food service economy. | |||
===== | =====Global Report on Food Crises 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.wfp.org/publications/global-report-food-crises-grfc | World Food Programme Staff | World Food Programme | July 2026] | ||
This report documents acute food insecurity and shows how conflict, climate shocks, and high prices combine to threaten survival. | |||
===== | =====Food Security Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update | World Bank Staff | World Bank | June 30, 2026] | ||
The World Bank tracks global food price inflation and food insecurity, showing how rising food costs continue to threaten vulnerable households in low-income countries. | |||
===== | =====Spatial Accessibility to Food Banks Hinders Food Parcel Uptake===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.24319 | Laura Sheppard et al. | arXiv | June 23, 2026] | ||
This study links cost-of-living hardship to food bank access, showing how geography can worsen food insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Responding to the Energy and Food Price Shock===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/05/20/responding-to-the-energy-and-food-price-shock-getting-the-policy-details-right | Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, Borja Gracia, Delphine Prady, Rodrigo Valdés | IMF | May 20, 2026] | ||
This IMF article discusses how governments can protect vulnerable households from food and energy shocks while preserving price signals. | |||
===== | =====High Cost of Living: Impact on Households===== | ||
[https:// | [https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10100/ | House of Commons Library Staff | House of Commons Library | May 15, 2026] | ||
This briefing examines how past inflation continues to affect household incomes, poverty, food insecurity, savings, and debt. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Prices, OECD: May 2026 Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/inflation-and-cost-of-living.html | OECD Staff | OECD | May 2026] | ||
This OECD update reports that inflation rose across many member countries, with energy and food prices continuing to affect household purchasing power. | |||
===== | =====Food Insecurity Remained High in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/research/publication/food-insecurity-remained-high-2025-safety-net-cuts-loom | Michael Karpman | Urban Institute | March 2026] | ||
This Urban Institute report finds that food insecurity remained elevated after the inflation surge and warns that safety-net cuts could worsen hardship. | |||
===== | =====Food Insecurity Remained Disproportionately Higher Among Black and Hispanic Adults===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/Food%20Insecurity%20Remained%20Disproportionately%20Higher%20Among%20Black%20and%20Hispanic%20Adults%20in%202025.pdf | Poonam Gupta, Elaine Waxman, Michael Karpman, Dulce Gonzalez, Noah Kennedy | Urban Institute | March 2026] | ||
This report shows how food insecurity is unevenly distributed by race and ethnicity, linking inflation and household costs to unequal economic security. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Inside the Food Basket: What Is Behind Recent Food Inflation?===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/focus/2026/html/ecb.ebbox202508_07~8e10bb606b.en.html | European Central Bank Staff | European Central Bank | 2026] | ||
This article explains how specific food items can keep food inflation elevated even after broad inflation slows. | |||
===== | =====The Cost of Living in the Netherlands in 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.expatica.com/nl/moving/about/cost-of-living-in-netherlands-1085103/ | Expatica Staff | Expatica | 2026] | ||
This guide summarizes transportation, housing, grocery, and other living costs in the Netherlands. | |||
===== | =====SNAP and Food Assistance===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection explains how food assistance programs reduce hunger and protect household economic security. | |||
===== | =====Urban Institute Food Insecurity Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/research-area/food-insecurity | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | 2026] | ||
This collection tracks food hardship, household affordability, and the effects of safety-net policy. | |||
===== | =====World Bank Poverty===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains global poverty trends and the role of inflation, food prices, and growth in household welfare. | |||
===== | =====World Bank Agriculture and Food===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This topic page covers food systems, agricultural prices, and food security. | |||
===== | =====Food and Agriculture Organization Food Price Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/foodpricesindex/en/ | FAO Staff | Food and Agriculture Organization | 2026] | ||
This index tracks global food commodity prices, a key driver of food affordability. | |||
===== | =====USDA Food Security in the U.S.===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s | USDA Economic Research Service Staff | USDA ERS | 2026] | ||
This page provides U.S. food insecurity data and explains how households struggle to afford adequate food. | |||
===== | =====USDA Food Price Outlook===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook | USDA Economic Research Service Staff | USDA ERS | 2026] | ||
This data product forecasts food price inflation and shows how grocery costs change over time. | |||
===== | =====USDA Food Expenditure Series===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditure-series | USDA Economic Research Service Staff | USDA ERS | 2026] | ||
This dataset tracks how much households and the economy spend on food. | |||
===== | =====SNAP Is Effective and Efficient===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-is-effective-and-efficient | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This article explains how SNAP reduces hunger and supports low-income household budgets. | |||
===== | =====Household Pulse Survey===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/household-pulse-survey.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | ||
This survey measures household hardship, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and difficulty paying expenses. | |||
===== | =====WFP HungerMap LIVE===== | ||
[https:// | [https://hungermap.wfp.org/ | World Food Programme Staff | World Food Programme | 2026] | ||
This dashboard tracks food insecurity and hunger risks in near real time. | |||
===== | =====FAO Food Price Monitoring and Analysis===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fao.org/giews/food-prices/home/en/ | FAO Staff | Food and Agriculture Organization | 2026] | ||
This tool tracks domestic food prices and helps identify countries facing food price stress. | |||
===== | =====International Food Policy Research Institute Food Security Portal===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.foodsecurityportal.org/ | IFPRI Staff | International Food Policy Research Institute | 2026] | ||
This portal provides data and research on food prices, food security, and policy responses. | |||
===== | =====Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.gafs.info/ | World Bank and Partners | Global Alliance for Food Security | 2026] | ||
This dashboard tracks food security indicators, price risks, and global hunger pressures. | |||
===== | =====ReliefWeb Food Security Updates===== | ||
[https:// | [https://reliefweb.int/topics/food-security-and-livelihoods | ReliefWeb Staff | ReliefWeb | 2026] | ||
This topic page gathers reports on food insecurity, livelihoods, inflation, and humanitarian crises. | |||
===== | =====ACLED Conflict and Food Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://acleddata.com/ | ACLED Staff | ACLED | 2026] | ||
This source tracks conflict data that can be linked to food insecurity, displacement, and inflation shocks. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Climate Shocks and Food Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climatechange | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This topic page helps connect climate change, agricultural disruption, and food price inflation. | |||
===== | =====Canada Food Price Report===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.dal.ca/sites/agri-food/research/canada-s-food-price-report.html | Dalhousie University Staff | Dalhousie University | 2026] | ||
This annual report forecasts food price increases and their effects on household grocery bills. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Nigeria Inflation Reports===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/ | National Bureau of Statistics Staff | Nigeria NBS | 2026] | ||
This official site provides inflation data for Nigeria, where food prices are central to household security. | |||
===== | =====Our World in Data Food Prices===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ourworldindata.org/food-prices | Our World in Data Staff | Our World in Data | 2026] | ||
This article explains how food prices change over time and why they matter for hunger and poverty. | |||
===== | =====Trussell Food Bank Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-research/research | Trussell Staff | Trussell | 2026] | ||
This research shows how food bank use is linked to income, debt, housing, disability, and the cost-of-living crisis. | |||
===== | =====Feeding America Map the Meal Gap===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.feedingamerica.org/research/map-the-meal-gap | Feeding America Staff | Feeding America | 2026] | ||
This report maps food insecurity across U.S. counties and shows how food costs shape hunger. | |||
===== | =====Feeding America Hunger Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.feedingamerica.org/research | Feeding America Staff | Feeding America | 2026] | ||
This research collection tracks hunger, food prices, poverty, and emergency food needs. | |||
===== | =====Food Deserts and Economic Insecurity===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas | USDA Economic Research Service Staff | USDA ERS | 2026] | ||
This atlas maps access to grocery stores and helps explain geographic dimensions of food insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staff | USDA FNS | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks SNAP participation and benefits, central to food security. | |||
===== | =====School Meals and Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staff | USDA FNS | 2026] | ||
This resource explains child nutrition programs that reduce family food costs. | |||
===== | =====Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staff | USDA FNS | 2026] | ||
This page explains how school meals help families manage food insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Summer EBT and Family Food Costs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staff | USDA FNS | 2026] | ||
This page explains summer food benefits that help families when school meals are unavailable. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation, Climate, and Food Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fao.org/climate-change/en/ | FAO Staff | Food and Agriculture Organization | 2026] | ||
This page connects climate shocks to agricultural production, food prices, and food security. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Food Price Inflation and Nutrition===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.unicef.org/nutrition | UNICEF Staff | UNICEF | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains how food price shocks can affect child nutrition and family well-being. | |||
===== | =====Food Security Update, December 2025===== | ||
[https:// | [https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-Security-Update-120-December-19-2025.pdf | World Bank Staff | World Bank | December 19, 2025] | ||
This update tracks food price inflation and food insecurity, showing how high prices continue to pressure household budgets in vulnerable countries. | |||
===== | =====The Probability of Food Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.06144 | Seungmin Lee, John Hoddinott, Christopher B. Barrett, Matthew P. Rabbitt | arXiv | September 7, 2025] | ||
This paper develops long-term household food security measures using U.S. panel data. | |||
===== | =====Food Security Update, June 2025===== | ||
[https:// | [https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-Security-Update-117-June-13-2025-2.pdf | World Bank Staff | World Bank | June 13, 2025] | ||
This update explains how food prices remained high in many countries even when official inflation rates had started to fall. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Kenya Inflation Eases and Remains Below Midpoint of Target Range===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/kenya/news/inflation/kenya-consumer-prices-30-05-2025-inflation-eases-and-remains-below-midpoint-of-target-range-in-may/ | FocusEconomics Staff | FocusEconomics | May 30, 2025] | ||
This article reports on Kenya inflation trends and shows how transport, housing, and food prices shape household cost pressures. | |||
===== | =====Five Facts About Food Costs in America===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/05/15/5-facts-about-food-costs-in-america/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | May 15, 2025] | ||
This article shows how food-at-home prices rose sharply after 2020, helping explain why households still feel squeezed. | |||
===== | =====Unequal Journeys to Food Markets===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.07913 | Robert Benassai-Dalmau et al. | arXiv | May 12, 2025] | ||
This study shows how unequal access to food markets in Africa can worsen food insecurity and economic inequality. | |||
===== | =====Food Security Update, April 2025===== | ||
[https:// | [https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-Security-Update-115-April-25-2025.pdf | World Bank Staff | World Bank | April 25, 2025] | ||
This update shows that food price inflation remained high in many low- and middle-income countries, threatening food access. | |||
===== | =====World Economic Outlook, April 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/weo/2025/april/english/ch1.pdf | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | April 2025] | ||
This IMF chapter discusses inflation, food and energy prices, and risks to growth, poverty, and food security. | |||
===== | =====Households Faced Persistent Challenges Affording Food in 2024===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/research/publication/households-faced-persistent-challenges-affording-food-2024 | Dulce Gonzalez, Michael Karpman, Poonam Gupta, Elaine Waxman | Urban Institute | March 2025] | ||
This report shows that many households continued to struggle with food costs after the inflation spike. | |||
===== | =====Food Security Update, February 2025===== | ||
[https:// | [https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-Security-Update-113-February-14-2025.pdf | World Bank Staff | World Bank | February 14, 2025] | ||
This update shows that domestic food price inflation remained high in many low-income countries. | |||
===== | =====Climate and Societal Disruptions on Food Prices===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.06080 | Emile Esmaili et al. | arXiv | February 10, 2025] | ||
This historical study shows how climate shocks and conflict can combine to raise food prices and worsen insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Does the Financialization of Agricultural Commodities Impact Food Security?===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.05560 | Manogna R. L. and Nishil Kulkarni | arXiv | February 8, 2025] | ||
This study examines how commodity-market financialization may affect food security, especially in developing countries. | |||
===== | =====Five Alarming Statistics on Global Hunger===== | ||
[https:// | [https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/five-alarming-statistics-on-global-hunger | World Bank Staff | World Bank Blogs | January 27, 2025] | ||
This article explains how food prices can push millions into extreme poverty and worsen food insecurity. | |||
===== | =====The Impact of Temperature and Rainfall Volatility on Food Prices===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/wp/2025/english/wpiea2025244-source-pdf.pdf | C. Adam et al. | International Monetary Fund | 2025] | ||
This IMF paper examines how climate volatility can increase food price volatility and affect inflation forecasting. | |||
===== | =====State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en/ | FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO | FAO | 2025] | ||
This annual report examines hunger, food price inflation, and nutrition security worldwide. | |||
===== | =====Belize: Selected Issues===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/publications/cr/issues/2024/05/15/belize-selected-issues-549011 | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | May 14, 2024] | ||
This IMF report discusses policy options for protecting vulnerable households from food price inflation. | |||
===== | =====Food Prices and Poverty===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.elibrary.imf.org/display/book/9780821394519/ch03.xml | IMF / World Bank Staff | IMF eLibrary | 2012] | ||
This chapter explains how high and volatile food prices hurt food security and poor households. | |||
=== | === Poverty, Inequality, and Economic Security === | ||
===== | =====Post-Pandemic Trends in Extreme Poverty Around the World===== | ||
[https:// | [https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/post-pandemic-trends-in-extreme-poverty-around-the-world- | World Bank Staff | World Bank Blogs | January 7, 2026] | ||
This article connects inflation, growth, and poverty trends, showing how economic recovery does not always translate evenly into household security. | |||
===== | =====The American Affordability Tracker===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/data-tools/american-affordability-tracker | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | 2026] | ||
This data tool tracks earnings, household costs, and financial strain to show where affordability pressures are most severe. | |||
===== | =====Poverty and Inequality===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection tracks poverty, inequality, and policy choices that shape economic security. | |||
===== | =====Family Budget Calculator===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/resources/budget/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2026] | ||
This tool estimates the income families need for a modest but adequate standard of living by location. | |||
===== | =====Urban Institute Taxes and Families Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/research-area/taxes-and-budgets | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | 2026] | ||
This research area examines how taxes, credits, and public budgets affect household economic security. | |||
===== | =====IMF World Economic Outlook===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | 2026] | ||
This publication series tracks global growth, inflation, poverty risks, and household-relevant macroeconomic trends. | |||
===== | =====MIT Living Wage Calculator===== | ||
[https:// | [https://livingwage.mit.edu/ | MIT Staff | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2026] | ||
This tool estimates the wage needed to meet basic costs by location and family type. | |||
===== | =====Federal Poverty Guidelines===== | ||
[https:// | [https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines | HHS ASPE Staff | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | 2026] | ||
This page provides poverty guidelines used for program eligibility, though they often understate true living costs. | |||
===== | =====Census Poverty in the United States===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | ||
This page provides poverty data used to understand economic insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Census Income in the United States===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/income.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | ||
This page tracks household income and helps show whether incomes are keeping up with inflation. | |||
=====Census Supplemental Poverty Measure===== | |||
[https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/supplemental-poverty-measure.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | |||
This measure accounts for taxes, benefits, and regional costs, giving a fuller picture of economic security. | |||
===== | =====Brookings Poverty and Opportunity===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.brookings.edu/topic/poverty/ | Brookings Institution Staff | Brookings | 2026] | ||
This research area covers poverty, economic mobility, and policies affecting household security. | |||
===== | =====Economic Security Project===== | ||
[https:// | [https://economicsecurityproject.org/ | Economic Security Project Staff | Economic Security Project | 2026] | ||
This organization publishes research and advocacy on income supports, tax credits, and household financial stability. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Roosevelt Institute Inflation and Inequality===== | ||
[https:// | [https://rooseveltinstitute.org/ | Roosevelt Institute Staff | Roosevelt Institute | 2026] | ||
This research center publishes analysis on inflation, market power, inequality, and household costs. | |||
===== | =====World Bank Poverty and Shared Prosperity===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/poverty-and-shared-prosperity | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This publication series tracks global poverty, inequality, and economic security. | |||
===== | =====UK Family Resources Survey===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-resources-survey--2 | UK Government Staff | Department for Work and Pensions | 2026] | ||
This survey provides household income, poverty, disability, and living standards data. | |||
=====Inflation | =====World Development Indicators Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://databank.worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This database includes inflation, poverty, income, and development indicators. | |||
===== | =====Our World in Data Poverty===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ourworldindata.org/poverty | Our World in Data Staff | Our World in Data | 2026] | ||
This article provides long-term data on poverty and living standards, useful for economic security context. | |||
===== | =====Living Standards and Inflation===== | ||
[https:// | [https://ifs.org.uk/ | Institute for Fiscal Studies Staff | Institute for Fiscal Studies | 2026] | ||
This research center publishes analysis on inflation, incomes, taxes, benefits, and household living standards. | |||
===== | =====Fairness Foundation Cost of Living===== | ||
[https:// | [https://fairnessfoundation.com/ | Fairness Foundation Staff | Fairness Foundation | 2026] | ||
This organization publishes public attitudes and research on inequality, fairness, and economic hardship. | |||
===== | =====Medical Debt and Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/research-reports/medical-debt-burden-in-the-united-states/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This research explains how medical debt affects credit, borrowing, and household security. | |||
===== | =====Children and Household Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.childtrends.org/research-topic/poverty-and-inequality | Child Trends Staff | Child Trends | 2026] | ||
This research area covers child poverty, family income, and household hardship. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Child Poverty and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/ | Center on Poverty and Social Policy Staff | Columbia University | 2026] | ||
This research center studies child poverty, tax credits, transfers, and family economic security. | |||
===== | =====Basic Income and Economic Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://basicincome.stanford.edu/ | Stanford Basic Income Lab Staff | Stanford University | 2026] | ||
This research center studies guaranteed income, household stability, and financial well-being. | |||
===== | =====Utility Shutoffs and Household Hardship===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nclc.org/resources/utility-disconnections/ | National Consumer Law Center Staff | NCLC | 2026] | ||
This resource explains how energy costs and utility shutoffs affect low-income households. | |||
===== | =====Water Affordability and Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter | EPA Staff | Environmental Protection Agency | 2026] | ||
This resource covers water affordability and infrastructure finance affecting household utility costs. | |||
===== | =====Workforce and Wage Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/performance/results | U.S. Department of Labor Staff | Department of Labor | 2026] | ||
This source provides labor-market data relevant to household economic security. | |||
===== | =====Global Nutrition Report===== | ||
[https:// | [https://globalnutritionreport.org/ | Global Nutrition Report Staff | Global Nutrition Report | 2026] | ||
This report connects food affordability, nutrition, and inequality. | |||
===== | =====Global Economic Prospects===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/global-economic-prospects | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This report tracks global growth, inflation, poverty risks, and economic shocks affecting household security. | |||
===== | =====Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Are Worsening Poverty and Inequality===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/trump-administration-congressional-republicans-are-worsening | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | December 18, 2025] | ||
This article argues that tax and benefit policy choices can worsen poverty even when some provisions are indexed for inflation. | |||
===== | =====K-Shaped Economy Explained===== | ||
[https:// | [https://apnews.com/article/kshaped-economy-spending-income-inequality-dfa59144ecb2e1b674242666e28ff556 | AP Staff | Associated Press | December 1, 2025] | ||
This article explains how higher-income households can thrive while lower-income households struggle with high prices and weaker income gains. | |||
===== | =====2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/2025-employer-health-benefits-survey/ | KFF Staff | KFF | October 22, 2025] | ||
This survey shows how employer health premiums have grown faster than inflation over time, adding pressure to family budgets. | |||
===== | =====Vulnerable People Could Be Targeted for Painful Cuts===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/income-security/2025-budget-stakes-vulnerable-people-could-be-targeted-for-painful-cuts | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2025] | ||
This article explains how cuts to TANF and other income supports would weaken economic security for families with low incomes. | |||
===== | =====Economic Security Programs Reduce Overall Poverty===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/economic-security-programs-reduce-overall-poverty-racial-and-ethnic | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | July 1, 2021] | ||
This report shows how public income supports reduce poverty and improve household economic security. | |||
=== | === Wages, Employment, and Worker Security === | ||
===== | =====Seventeen States and Localities Are Increasing Their Minimum Wage This July===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/blog/seventeen-states-and-localities-are-increasing-their-minimum-wage-this-july/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | June 29, 2026] | ||
This article explains how minimum wage increases can help offset inflation and improve economic security for low-wage workers in high-cost communities. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Inflation Hits Three-Year High===== | ||
[https:// | [https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-iran-unemployment-social-security-8bd0733b616d7c0056c6179e72f85c8f | AP Staff | Associated Press | June 13, 2026] | ||
This news article reports that rising gas prices pushed U.S. inflation higher, adding pressure to household budgets and complicating Federal Reserve decisions. | |||
===== | =====Myths vs. Facts About the Minimum Wage===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.epi.org/publication/myths-vs-facts-about-the-minimum-wage-an-faq-on-the-economics-of-increasing-wage-floors/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | June 1, 2026] | ||
This article answers common claims about minimum wage policy and connects wage floors to affordability, poverty reduction, and worker security. | |||
===== | =====Setting High Standards for a Federal Minimum Wage===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/publication/setting-high-standards-for-a-federal-minimum-wage-raising-the-wage-to-two-thirds-of-the-national-median-wage-would-lift-pay-for-nearly-40-million-workers/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | May 21, 2026] | ||
This report argues that the federal minimum wage has lost purchasing power to inflation and that higher wage standards would improve economic security. | |||
===== | =====Taking Affordability Seriously===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/blog/taking-affordability-seriously-even-with-recent-oil-shocks-affordability-remains-mostly-an-issue-of-incomes-not-prices/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | May 14, 2026] | ||
This article argues that affordability is not only about inflation but also about whether wages keep pace with the cost of necessities. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Adjusting Minimum Wages for Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/publication/adjusting-minimum-wages-for-inflation-is-a-necessary-yet-modest-step-toward-protecting-affordability-for-low-wage-workers-the-case-of-californias-fast-food-council/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | March 23, 2026] | ||
This report explains why indexing wages to inflation helps protect workers from losing purchasing power over time. | |||
===== | =====The Productivity-Pay Gap===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/productivity-pay-gap/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | March 23, 2026] | ||
This article explains how wages have failed to keep pace with productivity, helping explain long-term affordability problems. | |||
===== | =====Low-Wage Workers Faced Worsening Affordability in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/blog/low-wage-workers-faced-worsening-affordability-in-2025/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | February 5, 2026] | ||
This article reports that real wages declined for low-wage workers in 2025, showing how even lower inflation can coincide with worse affordability. | |||
===== | =====The Economy Posed Challenges for Black Households and Black-Owned Businesses in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/blog/the-economy-posed-challenges-for-black-households-and-black-owned-businesses-in-2025 | Gbenga Ajilore | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | February 3, 2026] | ||
This article shows how inflation, labor market weakness, and policy changes can disproportionately affect Black households. | |||
===== | =====Real Earnings===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.toc.htm | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This BLS release tracks whether wages are rising faster or slower than inflation. | |||
===== | =====Employment Situation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.toc.htm | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This monthly release shows employment and unemployment trends that affect economic security. | |||
===== | =====Federal Reserve Monetary Policy Reports===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/mpr_default.htm | Federal Reserve Staff | Federal Reserve Board | 2026] | ||
These reports explain inflation, labor markets, interest rates, and household financial conditions. | |||
===== | =====Minimum Wage===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/research/minimum-wage/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2026] | ||
This research collection explains how wage policy affects low-wage workers and affordability. | |||
===== | =====Wages, Incomes, and Wealth===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/research/wages-incomes-and-wealth/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2026] | ||
This collection provides research on wages, inequality, and worker purchasing power. | |||
===== | =====OECD Economic Outlook===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-economic-outlook_16097408.html | OECD Staff | OECD | 2026] | ||
This outlook analyzes inflation, growth, labor markets, and living standards across advanced economies. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation Reduction and Family Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/ | White House Staff | White House | 2026] | ||
This collection includes administration statements on inflation, costs, wages, and economic policy. | |||
===== | =====Congressional Budget Office Economic Outlook===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbo.gov/topics/economy | Congressional Budget Office Staff | CBO | 2026] | ||
This CBO topic page provides projections for inflation, unemployment, interest rates, and economic growth. | |||
===== | =====Treasury Economic Policy===== | ||
[https:// | [https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/economic-policy | U.S. Treasury Staff | U.S. Treasury | 2026] | ||
This page provides economic policy analysis on inflation, growth, labor markets, and household conditions. | |||
===== | =====Federal Reserve Beige Book===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/beigebook/default.htm | Federal Reserve Staff | Federal Reserve Board | 2026] | ||
This report summarizes regional economic conditions, including prices, wages, consumer spending, and labor markets. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Groundwork Collaborative Inflation Research===== | ||
[https:// | [https://groundworkcollaborative.org/ | Groundwork Collaborative Staff | Groundwork Collaborative | 2026] | ||
This organization studies inflation, corporate pricing, wages, and affordability. | |||
===== | =====ILO Wages and Working Time===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ilo.org/topics/wages | International Labour Organization Staff | ILO | 2026] | ||
This topic page covers wage trends, minimum wages, and the relationship between pay and living standards. | |||
===== | =====ILO Global Wage Report===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ilo.org/publications/global-wage-report | International Labour Organization Staff | ILO | 2026] | ||
This report series tracks real wages, inflation, inequality, and worker purchasing power. | |||
===== | =====Resolution Foundation Living Standards===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/ | Resolution Foundation Staff | Resolution Foundation | 2026] | ||
This organization publishes UK research on wages, inflation, inequality, and household finances. | |||
===== | =====Centre for Cities Cost of Living===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.centreforcities.org/ | Centre for Cities Staff | Centre for Cities | 2026] | ||
This research group analyzes how living costs and wages differ across urban areas. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation and the Cost of Basic Needs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/economy | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This research collection covers inflation, employment, wages, and policy responses affecting household security. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Economic Policy Institute Inflation and Prices===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/research/inflation/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2026] | ||
This research collection covers inflation, wages, corporate profits, and affordability. | |||
===== | =====Unemployment Insurance and Economic Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/ | U.S. Department of Labor Staff | Department of Labor | 2026] | ||
This resource explains unemployment benefits that protect workers from income shocks. | |||
===== | =====Minimum Wage Laws in the States===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state | U.S. Department of Labor Staff | Department of Labor | 2026] | ||
This page tracks state minimum wages, which affect low-wage worker purchasing power. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Living Wage and Inflation Adjustment===== | ||
[https:// | [https://livingwage.mit.edu/articles | MIT Living Wage Staff | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 2026] | ||
This page provides articles on living wages, household costs, and affordability. | |||
===== | =====Employment Cost Index===== | ||
[https://www.bls.gov/ | [https://www.bls.gov/eci/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This index tracks wages and benefits, helping show whether labor compensation keeps up with prices. | |||
===== | =====European Consumers Still Will Not Spend===== | ||
[https:// | [https://think.ing.com/articles/consumer-outlook-2026-wages-up-european-consumers-still-wont-spend1/ | ING Staff | ING Think | December 11, 2025] | ||
This article explains why consumers may remain cautious even when wages improve, because inflation and uncertainty affect confidence. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Rising Inflation and a Deteriorating Job Market Put the Fed in a Bind===== | ||
[https:// | [https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a | AP Staff | Associated Press | September 11, 2025] | ||
This article explains how rising prices and weakening labor conditions together threaten economic security. | |||
===== | =====To Understand 2024 Census Data, Keep the Bigger Story in Mind===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/to-understand-next-weeks-2024-census-data-keep-the-bigger-story | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | September 5, 2025] | ||
This article explains how income, inflation, wages, and public supports shape poverty and economic security statistics. | |||
===== | =====The Federal Minimum Wage Is Officially a Poverty Wage in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/blog/the-federal-minimum-wage-is-officially-a-poverty-wage-in-2025/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | April 28, 2025] | ||
This article argues that the federal minimum wage has fallen so far behind inflation that full-time work at that wage leaves workers below poverty. | |||
===== | =====The Impact of the Raise the Wage Act of 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/publication/rtwa-2025-impact-fact-sheet/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | April 8, 2025] | ||
This fact sheet estimates how a higher federal minimum wage would raise pay for millions of low-wage workers. | |||
===== | =====The Impact of Job Stability on Monetary Poverty in Italy===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.12376 | Katarzyna Reluga et al. | arXiv | February 17, 2025] | ||
This paper analyzes how job stability affects poverty, showing why secure work is central to economic security. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation, Wages, and Worker Power===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/publication/swa-wages-2024/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | 2025] | ||
This report examines wage trends and shows how labor-market power affects affordability. | |||
===== | =====Raising the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 by 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.epi.org/publication/raising-the-federal-minimum-wage-to-15-by-2025-would-lift-the-pay-of-32-million-workers/ | Economic Policy Institute Staff | Economic Policy Institute | March 9, 2021] | ||
This report argues that higher wage floors would lift pay for millions of workers and reduce poverty-level wages. | |||
=== | === Housing Affordability and Rent === | ||
===== | =====Financial Worries Rise as Cost-of-Living Pressures Mount===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.afp.com/en/infos/media-release-financial-worries-rise-and-match-health-concerns-cost-living-pressures-mount | AFP | AFP | July 6, 2026] | ||
This report summarizes global survey findings showing that financial worries now rival health concerns as people struggle with food, housing, and everyday expenses. | |||
===== | =====Rents Hit Record High in Australia===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/renting/australian-rental-prices-soar-to-new-record-high-amid-chronic-housing-shortage/news-story/46e19d72f81b2b7c8dbcccc25f7a7a9e | News.com.au Staff | News.com.au | July 2026] | ||
This article shows how housing shortages and rent increases intensify economic insecurity for renters. | |||
===== | =====One in Three Pensioners Will Be Renting in Retirement===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.thetimes.com/money/pensions/article/one-in-three-pensioners-will-be-renting-in-retirement-tkgtctv7z | The Times Staff | The Times | July 2026] | ||
This article examines how rising housing costs and lower homeownership threaten retirement security. | |||
===== | =====Rent Freeze Debate in New York===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.vox.com/politics/494457/mamdani-rent-freeze-housing-construction-economics | Vox Staff | Vox | July 2026] | ||
This article explores rent regulation as a response to housing affordability and tenant insecurity. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Inflation Has Eroded Wages for the College Class of 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.investopedia.com/inflation-has-erroded-the-wages-for-the-college-class-of-2026-12014223 | Investopedia Staff | Investopedia | July 2026] | ||
This article shows how inflation can weaken the real earnings of new graduates and delay savings, debt repayment, and housing plans. | |||
===== | =====Rebuilding Living Standards and Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.jrf.org.uk/income-savings-and-debt/rebuilding-living-standards-and-economic-security | Joseph Rowntree Foundation Staff | Joseph Rowntree Foundation | June 29, 2026] | ||
This policy report examines how rent, income, and debt pressures undermine household security and proposes reforms to rebuild living standards. | |||
=====Inflation | =====America in Focus: Hotter Inflation Does Not Stop Consumers===== | ||
[https:// | [https://apnews.com/article/economy-inflation-iran-gas-unemployment-mortgage-92d145a207d23427e019734de4bc4d9a | AP Staff | Associated Press | May 16, 2026] | ||
This article covers inflation driven by gasoline and consumer costs, showing the tension between continued spending and rising household strain. | |||
===== | =====Why Financial Distress Matters to Households===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.stlouisfed.org/open-vault/2026/march/why-financial-distress-matters-households-macroeconomy | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | March 25, 2026] | ||
This article explains how financial distress affects credit access, housing stability, spending, and long-term household security. | |||
===== | =====Eight Trends Shaping 2026 Healthcare Costs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/eight-trends-shaping-2026-healthcare-costs/ | Health System Tracker Staff | Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker | March 17, 2026] | ||
This article shows how health care costs contribute to the affordability crisis alongside food, rent, utilities, and other household expenses. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Balancing Current Tensions Between Inflation and Employment===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2026/mar/dual-mandate-balancing-current-tensions-inflation-employment | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis | March 3, 2026] | ||
This article explains the policy tradeoff between reducing inflation and maintaining employment, both central to economic security. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Inflation Rate 3.3 Percent in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2026/03/inflation-rate-3-3-percent-in-2025 | Statistics Netherlands Staff | Statistics Netherlands | January 13, 2026] | ||
This article explains how housing, rents, and consumer prices contributed to inflation in the Netherlands. | |||
===== | =====Rented Housing===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.government.nl/themes/building-and-housing/housing/rented-housing | Government of the Netherlands Staff | Government.nl | 2026] | ||
This government page explains rent increase limits tied to inflation and wage development. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Expenditure Surveys===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/cex/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This data source shows how households spend money across food, housing, transportation, health care, and other necessities. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Price Index Summary===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.toc.htm | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This monthly release reports inflation by category, including food, energy, housing, and medical care. | |||
===== | =====Personal Income and Outlays===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.bea.gov/news/current-releases/personal-income-and-outlays | Bureau of Economic Analysis Staff | Bureau of Economic Analysis | 2026] | ||
This release tracks income, spending, savings, and PCE inflation, key measures of household financial health. | |||
===== | =====Gross Domestic Product===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bea.gov/news/current-releases/gross-domestic-product | Bureau of Economic Analysis Staff | Bureau of Economic Analysis | 2026] | ||
This release shows broad economic growth and price changes that frame the household economy. | |||
===== | =====Household Debt and Credit Report===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc | Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff | New York Fed | 2026] | ||
This report tracks household debt, delinquencies, student loans, mortgages, and credit-card stress. | |||
===== | =====Housing Assistance===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection covers rental assistance, housing affordability, and how housing costs drive insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Urban Institute Housing Affordability Research===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.urban.org/research-area/housing-and-housing-finance | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | 2026] | ||
This collection covers rents, homeownership, mortgage access, and housing insecurity. | |||
===== | =====HUD Rental Assistance===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance | HUD Staff | U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | 2026] | ||
This page explains federal rental assistance programs that help reduce housing insecurity. | |||
===== | =====HUD Worst Case Housing Needs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/Worst-Case-Housing-Needs.html | HUD User Staff | HUD | 2026] | ||
This report series tracks severe housing problems among very low-income renters. | |||
===== | =====National Low Income Housing Coalition Out of Reach===== | ||
[https:// | [https://nlihc.org/oor | National Low Income Housing Coalition Staff | NLIHC | 2026] | ||
This annual report compares wages and rents to show how housing costs exceed what many workers can afford. | |||
===== | =====The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes===== | ||
[https:// | [https://nlihc.org/gap | National Low Income Housing Coalition Staff | NLIHC | 2026] | ||
This report shows the shortage of affordable rental homes for extremely low-income renters. | |||
===== | =====ALICE in the Crosscurrents===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.unitedforalice.org/ | United For ALICE Staff | United For ALICE | 2026] | ||
This project tracks households that earn above poverty but still cannot afford basic necessities. | |||
===== | =====CFPB Consumer Credit Trends===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-credit-trends/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks mortgages, credit cards, auto loans, student loans, and delinquency trends. | |||
===== | =====Housing Choice Vouchers===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/housing/housing-choice-voucher-fact-sheets | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This resource explains how vouchers help households afford rent and avoid homelessness. | |||
===== | =====Eviction Lab===== | ||
[https:// | [https://evictionlab.org/ | Eviction Lab Staff | Princeton University | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks evictions, showing how housing instability reflects economic insecurity. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====UK Inflation and Price Indices===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices | Office for National Statistics Staff | ONS | 2026] | ||
This official page tracks UK inflation, including food, energy, housing, and services. | |||
===== | =====UK Households Below Average Income===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/households-below-average-income-hbai--2 | UK Government Staff | Department for Work and Pensions | 2026] | ||
This data series measures poverty and income distribution after housing costs. | |||
===== | =====Australia Consumer Price Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/latest-release | Australian Bureau of Statistics Staff | ABS | 2026] | ||
This official release tracks inflation in Australia, including housing, food, transport, and health. | |||
===== | =====Australia Rental Affordability Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.sgsep.com.au/projects/rental-affordability-index | SGS Economics and Planning Staff | SGS Economics and Planning | 2026] | ||
This index measures rental stress and affordability across Australian communities. | |||
===== | =====South Africa Consumer Price Index===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.statssa.gov.za/?page_id=1854&PPN=P0141&SCH=73861 | Statistics South Africa Staff | Stats SA | 2026] | ||
This release tracks consumer inflation in South Africa, including food, housing, transport, and utilities. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Kenya Consumer Price Indices and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.knbs.or.ke/reports/consumer-price-indices-and-inflation-rates/ | Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Staff | KNBS | 2026] | ||
This page provides Kenya inflation data, including food, fuel, and housing costs. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Turkey Inflation Data===== | ||
[https:// | [https://data.tuik.gov.tr/ | Turkish Statistical Institute Staff | TurkStat | 2026] | ||
This official data source tracks inflation in Turkey, including food, rent, and transport prices. | |||
===== | =====Transportation Costs and Economic Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://htaindex.cnt.org/ | Center for Neighborhood Technology Staff | CNT | 2026] | ||
This index shows how housing and transportation costs together determine real affordability. | |||
===== | =====Location Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/location-affordability-index/ | HUD Exchange Staff | HUD | 2026] | ||
This tool helps show how transportation and housing costs combine to shape economic security. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Debt and Delinquency===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc/background.html | New York Fed Staff | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | 2026] | ||
This source explains how household debt data reveal stress in credit cards, mortgages, auto loans, and student loans. | |||
===== | =====Mortgage Rates and Housing Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms | Freddie Mac Staff | Freddie Mac | 2026] | ||
This weekly survey tracks mortgage rates, which affect housing affordability and household budgets. | |||
===== | =====Home Price and Affordability Trends===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/housing-statistics/housing-affordability-index | National Association of Realtors Staff | NAR | 2026] | ||
This index measures whether typical households can afford typical homes. | |||
===== | =====Rental Housing Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/research-areas/rental-housing | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Staff | Harvard University | 2026] | ||
This research area covers rent burdens, housing supply, and renter insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Housing Supply and Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects/housing-policy-initiative | Pew Charitable Trusts Staff | Pew Charitable Trusts | 2026] | ||
This research project studies housing supply, zoning, rents, and affordability. | |||
===== | =====Local Housing Solutions===== | ||
[https:// | [https://localhousingsolutions.org/ | NYU Furman Center Staff | Local Housing Solutions | 2026] | ||
This resource provides policy tools for improving housing affordability and stability. | |||
===== | =====Benefits Access and Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.benefits.gov/ | Benefits.gov Staff | U.S. Government | 2026] | ||
This resource helps households find benefits that can reduce food, health, housing, and utility hardship. | |||
===== | =====211 Basic Needs Assistance===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.211.org/ | United Way Staff | 211 | 2026] | ||
This resource connects households to local food, housing, utility, and financial assistance. | |||
===== | =====Supplemental Poverty Measure Report===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.census.gov/library/publications.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | ||
This report series shows how taxes, benefits, housing costs, and medical costs affect poverty. | |||
===== | =====Liquidity Shocks, Homeownership, and Income Inequality===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.01133 | Hamza Hanbali, Gaurav Khemka, Himasha Warnakulasooriya | arXiv | November 3, 2025] | ||
This paper examines how housing policy and liquidity shocks affect homeownership, inequality, and retirement security. | |||
===== | =====The Impact of Economic Policies on Housing Prices===== | ||
[https:// | [https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.09620 | Nicolas Houlié | arXiv | April 10, 2025] | ||
This paper analyzes how macroeconomic factors such as inflation, interest rates, and central-bank policy affect housing prices. | |||
===== | =====Rental Price Increases in 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.extatehousing.nl/en/news/rental-price-increases-in-2025%3A-what-you-need-to-know/676430fe821b69f744b2d928 | Expat Housing Staff | Expat Housing | 2025] | ||
This article explains rent increase rules and how rent policy can protect tenants from excessive inflation-linked costs. | |||
===== | =====The State of the Nation's Housing===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/state-nations-housing-2025 | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Staff | Harvard University | 2025] | ||
This report examines housing costs, rent burdens, home prices, and affordability. | |||
===== | =====Measuring the True Cost of Economic Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2024-11/Measuring-the-True-Cost-of-Economic-Security.pdf | Gregory Acs | Urban Institute | November 2024] | ||
This report examines the real costs families face to achieve economic security, including housing, child care, health care, and transportation. | |||
===== | =====House Republican Agendas and Project 2025 Would Increase Poverty and Hardship===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/house-republican-agendas-and-project-2025-would-increase-poverty-and | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | September 3, 2024] | ||
This article argues that proposed cuts to health care, food assistance, housing, and income supports would increase economic hardship. | |||
===== | =====America's Rental Housing===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-rental-housing-2024 | Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Staff | Harvard University | 2024] | ||
This report explains how rental cost burdens affect millions of households. | |||
===== | =====Trends in Income and Wealth Inequality===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | January 9, 2020] | ||
This report provides long-term context for understanding why inflation affects households differently depending on income and wealth. | |||
=== | === Household Finance, Debt, and Wealth === | ||
===== | =====Why 26 Percent of Americans Are Spending More Than They Earn===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.investopedia.com/why-26-percent-of-americans-are-now-spending-more-than-they-earn-as-financial-strain-grows-12009694 | Investopedia Staff | Investopedia | July 2026] | ||
This article reports rising financial strain, bill-payment difficulty, and anxiety as household expenses outpace income. | |||
===== | =====Survey of Consumer Finances===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scfindex.htm | Federal Reserve Staff | Federal Reserve Board | 2026] | ||
This survey provides data on household wealth, debt, savings, and financial resilience. | |||
===== | =====Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/shed.htm | Federal Reserve Staff | Federal Reserve Board | 2026] | ||
This survey tracks household financial well-being, emergency savings, expenses, and economic stress. | |||
===== | =====Credit Card and Household Debt Pressures===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/topics/household-debt | Federal Reserve Bank of New York Staff | New York Fed | 2026] | ||
This topic page provides research on household debt and financial vulnerability. | |||
===== | =====OECD Income Inequality===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/income-inequality.html | OECD Staff | OECD | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains inequality and how economic gains and costs are distributed across households. | |||
===== | =====Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Credit Cards===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/credit-card-data/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This page tracks credit card markets, which reflect household borrowing and financial stress. | |||
===== | =====Bankrate Emergency Savings Report===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bankrate.com/banking/savings/emergency-savings-report/ | Bankrate Staff | Bankrate | 2026] | ||
This report tracks whether households can cover emergency expenses, a core measure of economic security. | |||
===== | =====Brookings Future of the Middle Class===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.brookings.edu/series/future-of-the-middle-class-initiative/ | Brookings Institution Staff | Brookings | 2026] | ||
This series explores middle-class security, affordability, income, and mobility. | |||
===== | =====National Consumer Law Center Household Debt===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nclc.org/topic/consumer-debt/ | National Consumer Law Center Staff | NCLC | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains how debt collection, credit, and high-cost lending affect household security. | |||
===== | =====Auto Loan Debt and Household Budgets===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-credit-trends/auto-loans/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks auto loans, delinquencies, and transportation-related household debt. | |||
===== | =====More Americans Say Personal Finances Will Be Worse a Year From Now===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/05/07/growing-share-of-us-adults-say-their-personal-finances-will-be-worse-a-year-from-now/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | May 7, 2025] | ||
This article reports rising pessimism about family finances, reflecting ongoing affordability concerns. | |||
===== | =====FINRA National Financial Capability Study===== | ||
[https:// | [https://www.finrafoundation.org/nfcs | FINRA Investor Education Foundation Staff | FINRA Foundation | 2025] | ||
This survey measures financial capability, emergency savings, debt stress, and household financial resilience. | |||
===== | =====The State of the American Middle Class===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/05/31/the-state-of-the-american-middle-class/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | May 31, 2024] | ||
This article examines how the middle class has changed and why many households feel less financially secure. | |||
===== | =====How the American Middle Class Has Changed in the Past Five Decades===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/04/20/how-the-american-middle-class-has-changed-in-the-past-five-decades/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | April 20, 2022] | ||
This article tracks the shrinking middle class and provides background for understanding modern economic insecurity. | |||
===== | =====What Is the Difference Between Income and Wealth?===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/decoded/2021/07/23/whats-the-difference-between-income-and-wealth-and-other-common-questions-about-economic-concepts/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | July 23, 2021] | ||
This explainer defines income and wealth, two key measures of household financial security. | |||
=== | === Health Care Costs and Coverage === | ||
===== | =====Key Facts About the Uninsured Population===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/uninsured/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/ | KFF Staff | KFF | June 16, 2026] | ||
This article shows how health insurance affordability remains a major part of economic insecurity, especially for adults who say coverage is too expensive. | |||
===== | =====Key Facts About Health Care Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/ | KFF Staff | KFF | April 30, 2026] | ||
This KFF article shows how health costs remain difficult for many families, especially low-income households facing broader affordability pressures. | |||
===== | =====Medicaid Eligibility Levels for Older Adults and People With Disabilities===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/medicaid/medicaid-eligibility-levels-for-older-adults-and-people-with-disabilities-non-magi-in-2026/ | KFF Staff | KFF | April 30, 2026] | ||
This article explains how Medicaid income and asset rules shape health and economic security for older adults and disabled people. | |||
===== | =====KFF Health Costs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/ | KFF Staff | KFF | 2026] | ||
This collection explains how medical bills, premiums, deductibles, and drug costs affect household financial security. | |||
===== | =====KFF Medicaid===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/medicaid/ | KFF Staff | KFF | 2026] | ||
This collection tracks Medicaid policy and its role in health and financial security for low-income households. | |||
===== | =====KFF Medicare===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/medicare/ | KFF Staff | KFF | 2026] | ||
This collection covers Medicare costs, benefits, premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses for older adults. | |||
===== | =====Economic Security for Older Adults===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ncoa.org/page/research | National Council on Aging Staff | NCOA | 2026] | ||
This research collection covers older adult poverty, benefits, health costs, and financial insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Economic Security and Public Benefits===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nasi.org/research/economic-security/ | National Academy of Social Insurance Staff | NASI | 2026] | ||
This research area examines Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and other programs that stabilize household income. | |||
===== | =====Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/income/library/publications.html | Census Bureau Staff | U.S. Census Bureau | 2026] | ||
This annual report series tracks income, poverty, and insurance coverage, key economic security indicators. | |||
===== | =====Health Care Costs and Affordability===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/health-policy-101-health-care-costs-and-affordability/ | KFF Staff | KFF | October 8, 2025] | ||
This explainer summarizes why health care costs often grow faster than inflation and remain central to household financial stress. | |||
=== | === Safety-Net and Income-Support Programs === | ||
===== | =====Income Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/income-security | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection explains programs that support household income, reduce poverty, and buffer inflation shocks. | |||
===== | =====OECD Social Protection===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/social-protection.html | OECD Staff | OECD | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains how social protection systems help households cope with income shocks and cost pressures. | |||
===== | =====Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap | Administration for Children and Families Staff | ACF | 2026] | ||
This page explains LIHEAP, a program that helps low-income households manage energy costs. | |||
===== | =====IMF Social Protection Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/social-spending | IMF Staff | International Monetary Fund | 2026] | ||
This topic page examines social spending, subsidies, and policies that protect households from shocks. | |||
===== | =====World Bank Social Protection===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/socialprotection | World Bank Staff | World Bank | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains how safety nets, cash transfers, and social insurance protect households from poverty. | |||
===== | =====Cost-of-Living Crisis and Social Protection===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.unicef.org/social-policy | UNICEF Staff | UNICEF | 2026] | ||
This topic page discusses how cash transfers and child benefits help families cope with rising prices. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Cash Transfers and Inflation Protection===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.jpal.org/sectors/social-protection | J-PAL Staff | Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab | 2026] | ||
This research area evaluates social protection policies, including cash transfers that help households during price shocks. | |||
===== | =====Bolstering Social Protection and Human Capital===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2025/english/sipea2025110.pdf | B. Sarr | International Monetary Fund | 2025] | ||
This paper examines subsidies, social protection, and cost-of-living responses in the context of high food and fuel prices. | |||
=== | === Retirement and Social Security === | ||
===== | =====Latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/latestCOLA.html | Social Security Administration Staff | Social Security Administration | 2026] | ||
This page explains how Social Security benefits are adjusted for inflation, protecting retirees from some purchasing-power loss. | |||
===== | =====AARP Financial Security Trends===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/economics/ | AARP Staff | AARP | 2026] | ||
This research collection covers retirement, inflation, caregiving costs, and older adult financial security. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Retirement Security and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ssa.gov/policy/ | Social Security Administration Staff | Social Security Administration | 2026] | ||
This policy page provides research on Social Security, inflation adjustments, retirement income, and poverty among older adults. | |||
===== | =====Pension Rights and Retirement Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pensionrights.org/ | Pension Rights Center Staff | Pension Rights Center | 2026] | ||
This resource covers pensions, retirement income, and the economic security of older workers and retirees. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Retirement Income and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ebri.org/retirement | Employee Benefit Research Institute Staff | EBRI | 2026] | ||
This research collection covers retirement savings, inflation risk, and older adult security. | |||
===== | =====What the Data Says About Social Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/05/20/what-the-data-says-about-social-security/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | May 20, 2025] | ||
This article explains how Social Security benefits are adjusted for inflation and why they matter for retirement security. | |||
===== | =====Northwestern Mutual Planning and Progress Study===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.northwesternmutual.com/life-and-money/planning-and-progress-study/ | Northwestern Mutual Staff | Northwestern Mutual | 2025] | ||
This survey tracks financial anxiety, inflation concerns, savings, and retirement security. | |||
=== | === Family Costs, Education, and Tax Credits === | ||
===== | =====Student Loan Debt and Household Security===== | ||
[https:// | [https://studentaid.gov/data-center/student/portfolio | Federal Student Aid Staff | U.S. Department of Education | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks student loan debt, which affects household budgets, credit, and long-term financial stability. | |||
===== | =====Child Care Costs and Family Budgets===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.childcareaware.org/our-issues/research/the-us-and-the-high-price-of-child-care/ | Child Care Aware of America Staff | Child Care Aware of America | 2026] | ||
This report series shows how child care costs consume large shares of family income. | |||
===== | =====Child Tax Credit and Poverty===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/child-tax-credit | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection explains how child tax credits affect poverty, family income, and economic security. | |||
===== | =====Earned Income Tax Credit===== | ||
[https://www.cbpp.org/research/ | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | 2026] | ||
This collection explains how the EITC supports low- and moderate-income workers. | |||
===== | =====Student Loan Repayment and Financial Security===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/student-loans/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This resource explains student loan repayment issues and how education debt affects household budgets. | |||
===== | =====Child Care and Development Fund===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/programs/ccdf | Administration for Children and Families Staff | ACF | 2026] | ||
This program helps families afford child care, one of the largest work-related household costs. | |||
=== | === Energy and Transportation Costs === | ||
===== | =====Energy Information Administration Short-Term Energy Outlook===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/ | Energy Information Administration Staff | EIA | 2026] | ||
This forecast tracks energy prices, which influence inflation and household utility and fuel costs. | |||
===== | =====Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/gasdiesel/ | Energy Information Administration Staff | EIA | 2026] | ||
This data page tracks fuel prices that directly affect transportation costs and inflation expectations. | |||
=====Inflation | =====Energy Prices and Inflation===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.iea.org/topics/energy-security | International Energy Agency Staff | IEA | 2026] | ||
This topic page covers energy security, fuel markets, and price shocks that affect inflation. | |||
===== | =====Global Energy Crisis===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.iea.org/topics/global-energy-crisis | International Energy Agency Staff | IEA | 2026] | ||
This page explains how energy shocks affect households, businesses, and national economies. | |||
=====Inflation and | =====Inflation, Energy Prices, and Household Utility Bills===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/ | Energy Information Administration Staff | EIA | 2026] | ||
This source provides analysis of energy prices and their effects on consumers. | |||
=====Inflation | =====How BLS Inflation Data Can Affect Families' Everyday Purchasing Decisions===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-bls-inflation-data-can-affect-families-everyday-purchasing-decisions | Urban Institute Staff | Urban Institute | October 31, 2025] | ||
This article explains how monthly inflation data translate into real household choices about gasoline, food, vehicles, and other necessities. | |||
=== | === Fiscal, Monetary, and Macroeconomic Policy === | ||
===== | =====Spring 2026 Economic Forecast===== | ||
[https:// | [https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/economic-forecast-and-surveys/economic-forecasts/spring-2026-economic-forecast-slowdown-growth-energy-shock-drives-inflation_en | European Commission Staff | European Commission | May 21, 2026] | ||
This forecast warns that energy shocks can spread through food, transport, and services, raising the cost of living for households. | |||
===== | =====Economic Bulletin Issue 8, 2025===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/ecbu/eb202508.en.pdf | European Central Bank Staff | European Central Bank | January 7, 2026] | ||
This bulletin reviews euro area inflation trends and monetary policy, including projections for prices and household purchasing power. | |||
===== | =====Economic Bulletin Issue 1, 2026===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/economic-bulletin/html/eb202601.en.html | European Central Bank Staff | European Central Bank | 2026] | ||
This bulletin reviews euro area inflation, wage growth, and monetary policy conditions affecting households. | |||
===== | =====CBO Distribution of Household Income===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbo.gov/topics/income-distribution | Congressional Budget Office Staff | CBO | 2026] | ||
This collection explains how income, taxes, and transfers are distributed across households. | |||
===== | =====Treasury Fiscal Data===== | ||
[https:// | [https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/ | U.S. Treasury Staff | U.S. Treasury | 2026] | ||
This data source tracks federal revenue, spending, and debt, which shape long-term fiscal policy. | |||
===== | =====Monetary Policy and Household Costs===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.brookings.edu/topic/monetary-policy/ | Brookings Institution Staff | Brookings | 2026] | ||
This research collection explains how interest rates and inflation policy affect borrowing costs, employment, and household security. | |||
===== | =====Key Facts About the U.S. National Debt===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/08/12/key-facts-about-the-us-national-debt/ | Pew Research Center Staff | Pew Research Center | August 12, 2025] | ||
This article explains the national debt and its relationship to federal fiscal choices, interest costs, and long-term economic policy. | |||
=== | === Data, Surveys, and Research Resources === | ||
===== | =====A Framework to Evaluate Affordability Proposals===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/a-framework-to-evaluate-affordability-proposals | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | June 15, 2026] | ||
This article proposes ways to judge affordability policies by whether they reduce costs for families most in need. | |||
===== | =====Opportunity Insights Economic Tracker===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.tracktherecovery.org/ | Opportunity Insights Staff | Opportunity Insights | 2026] | ||
This tracker provides data on employment, spending, and economic recovery across income groups. | |||
===== | =====NBER Household Finance===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.nber.org/programs-projects/programs-working-groups/household-finance | NBER Staff | National Bureau of Economic Research | 2026] | ||
This research area covers debt, savings, borrowing, and household financial resilience. | |||
===== | =====UNDP Human Development Reports===== | ||
[https:// | [https://hdr.undp.org/ | UNDP Staff | United Nations Development Programme | 2026] | ||
These reports connect income, prices, health, education, and human security. | |||
===== | =====Guaranteed Income Research===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.mayorsforagi.org/ | Mayors for a Guaranteed Income Staff | Mayors for a Guaranteed Income | 2026] | ||
This organization tracks guaranteed income pilots and their effects on household security. | |||
===== | =====WIC Program Data===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/wic-program | USDA Food and Nutrition Service Staff | USDA FNS | 2026] | ||
This source tracks nutrition assistance for women, infants, and children. | |||
===== | =====Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/oes/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This dataset shows wage levels by occupation and location, useful for comparing pay to living costs. | |||
===== | =====Energy Burden and Low-Income Households===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.aceee.org/energy-burden | ACEEE Staff | American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy | 2026] | ||
This research explains how utility costs consume high shares of income for low-income households. | |||
=== | === General Economic Security and Affordability === | ||
===== | =====United Nations Cost-of-Living Crisis===== | ||
[https:// | [https://unctad.org/topic/trade-analysis/cost-of-living-crisis | UNCTAD Staff | UNCTAD | 2026] | ||
This topic page explains the global cost-of-living crisis and its links to food, energy, finance, and trade. | |||
===== | =====High-Cost Lending and Economic Insecurity===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/payday-loans/ | CFPB Staff | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | 2026] | ||
This CFPB resource explains payday loans and how high-cost borrowing can deepen financial insecurity. | |||
===== | =====Temporary Assistance for Needy Families===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf | Administration for Children and Families Staff | ACF | 2026] | ||
This program provides income support and services for families with very low incomes. | |||
===== | =====Weatherization Assistance Program===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.energy.gov/scep/wap/weatherization-assistance-program | U.S. Department of Energy Staff | Department of Energy | 2026] | ||
This program reduces household energy costs through efficiency improvements. | |||
===== | =====Job Openings and Labor Turnover===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.bls.gov/jlt/ | Bureau of Labor Statistics Staff | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2026] | ||
This release tracks labor-market strength, quits, hiring, and job openings, which affect wage power. | |||
===== | =====A Weakening Economy and a Drastically Cut Economic Support System===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.cbpp.org/blog/a-weakening-economy-and-a-drastically-cut-economic-support-system | CBPP Staff | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities | November 5, 2025] | ||
This article argues that weakening economic conditions and reduced safety-net supports can increase insecurity for low-income households. | |||
===== | =====Medical Debt in the United States===== | ||
[https://www. | [https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/diagnosis-debt-investigating-medical-debt-in-america/ | KFF Staff | KFF | 2022] | ||
This report investigates medical debt and shows how health expenses can destabilize households. | |||
