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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Business
Lauren Aratani in New York and David Smith in Washington

Americans are feeling the pain of the affordability crisis: ‘There’s not any wiggle room’

Woman reaches out toward Mexican food staples on shelves.
Goodr community market owner and founder Jasmine Crowe-Houston stocks shelves in Atlanta, Georgia, on 3 November 2025. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Frozen dinners were useful when no one was home to cook. A fancy cheese or apple roll felt like a family treat. But not any more. “We can’t afford to do those little luxuries any more because they’re just too expensive to feed five with,” says Cat Hill. “There’s not any wiggle room.”

The 43-year-old from Hornby, New York, has been hit by both higher grocery prices and rising costs for her small business running a horse stable. Under Donald Trump, she worries it may get even harder. “With this administration, it doesn’t appear to be stabilising,” she adds. “It’s hard to think about how exactly we are going to ride this out.”

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