It’s not just you. This year’s Thanksgiving meal costs about 10% more than last year’s. When families sit down to eat, they’re bringing with them not just desserts and sides but the weight of an economy that no longer works for them.
Americans feel this acutely. A recent CNN poll found that 85% of voters say grocery prices are higher than a year ago, with 60% saying they have risen “a lot.” A Fox News poll reached the same conclusion: 75% of voters across parties describe the economy negatively, citing higher costs for groceries, utilities, health care, and housing. When voters from opposite ends of the political spectrum report the same lived experience, this is no longer a partisan narrative problem. It’s a reality.
Inflation: Still Too High, and Still Too Visible
The latest available inflation data, released in September 2025, shows…
