President Trump has pointed to slowing inflation and low unemployment as proof of economic progress, but many workers say their financial reality tells a different story. While overall price increases have cooled, the cost of housing, child care, health care and groceries remains high, leaving families struggling to cover basic expenses and save for the future.

Maribel McBeath, a 66 year old airport cleaner in Charlotte, earns $16.50 an hour and spends about half her income on rent. With medical bills and no savings cushion, she cannot afford to retire. Across the country, others describe similar pressures, saying wage growth has not kept pace with rising costs and that stock market gains have little impact on their daily lives.

Grocery prices for staples such as coffee, beef and fish have continued to climb, reinforcing the sense that affordability has not improved. Experts note that people want to see actual prices fall, not just slower increases. The number of people working multiple jobs has grown as households try to stay afloat.

From middle class families burdened by high child care bills and medical crises to parents relying on food banks after layoffs, many Americans say they are making difficult trade offs. Even those who have regained financial footing remain anxious about emergencies, retirement and college costs, underscoring a persistent gap between positive economic indicators and lived experience.