Well folks, inflation may have cooled off a bit, but don’t pop the champagne just yet. You see, the Consumer Price Index may have decreased from a peak of 9.1% to 5%, but that’s like saying you lost weight after skipping breakfast. It doesn’t tell the whole story. The rising prices have made Americans spend more, and not just a little more but a whole lot more.

Sure, inflation only looks back one year, but inflation has been historically high for two years now. CNBC Make It took matters into their own hands and looked at the Consumer Price Index since April 2021, and the results were not pretty. Groceries, utilities, and gas prices have increased by a whopping 20% or more. All items on the index have increased by 13% in that time. So, if you thought things couldn’t get worse, just wait until you see what got more expensive.

Your grocery bills are up by nearly 20%, and some staples have skyrocketed in price. Margarine prices increased by a whopping 54% due to the war in Ukraine, which is the world’s top exporter of sunflower oil. Say goodbye to your beloved margarine because it has increased from about $3.25 to $5 in the last two years. And milk and bread production have also been affected by the conflict in Ukraine, which has forced prices to rise by 19% and 21%, respectively. The avian flu also came at us like a freight train, and now eggs are more expensive. Chicken prices have gone up, too, so you may want to invest in a cow or two.

Car ownership costs are still up there too. Gas prices have been more unpredictable than the weather in the Midwest, but despite the ups and downs, the cost of gas has been on a downward trend since June 2022. You can now pay $3.66 per gallon as of Friday, which is less than its June 2021 climax when a gallon cost more than $5. Even with this decline in gas prices, it’s still up by 22% compared to two years ago. And let’s not forget about the supply crunch that has left people with one kidney and a broken dream of getting a car. The car manufacturers cut production early in the pandemic, and they can’t seem to catch up, so new cars are 19% more expensive than in 2021. Plus, there’s a semiconductor shortage that has made the prices go through the roof.

Now, let’s talk vacations! Yay! Oh, wait. Inflation has made travel more expensive. Airline fares have sky-rocketed by 36%, and hotel prices are up by 31%. It’s like finding out your favorite beach has suddenly turned into a nudist beach – not the vacation you hoped for. But hey, at least tickets for concerts and movies have only increased by 9%, and televisions and computers have gone down in price. So, you can sit at home and watch a concert on TV and pretend like you’re there.

All in all, costs are up, and you don’t even have to leave your house to feel the pain. Sounds like the “fun” never stops. On the bright side, you can always use your body weight in money as heating because, at this rate, it’ll be worth more than your central heat.

Serious News: cnbc