Inflation has been creeping up. How are Americans feeling its effects?

Summary

Consider This from NPR

Episode: Inflation has been creeping up. How are Americans feeling its effects?

Date: July 13, 2026
Host: Scott Detrow

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Episode Overview

This episode goes beyond economic statistics, exploring how the recent rise in inflation—driven largely by surging gas prices amidst the renewed U.S. conflict with Iran—is impacting the daily lives of Americans. Host Scott Detrow interviews three individuals from across the country, each navigating the pressures of rising costs from different vantage points: a gig worker/jack-of-all-trades in Mississippi, a sports pub owner in Seattle, and a retired veteran in rural New Hampshire. Their personal stories reveal the anxiety, trade-offs, and resilience underlying what can otherwise seem like cold economic data.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Drivers of Rising Inflation

• Gas Prices Surge: The collapse of the Iran ceasefire and resulting blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused U.S. gas prices to soar, fueling overall inflation.

• Analyst Perspective:

  • John Kilduff, Again Capital:

    "The discount party at the pump is over. We're not going to see much relief. We should be going back over $4 a gallon, a national average here pretty quickly." (00:26)

• Annual Inflation at Three-Year High: Inflation has reached 4.2%, with wages lagging, and rising costs of food alongside fuel are especially painful.

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2. Meet the Guests: Life Under Inflation

Jennifer Browning (Gulfport, MS)

• Age 44, gig worker and substitute teacher, pet-sitter, health insurance agent (seasonal).
• Juggles four to five jobs to "keep a roof over my head."
• Despite owning her mobile home, lacks a sense of security.

  "Basically, I'm doing anything I can just to keep a roof over my head. ...There's a lot of fear all the time of just trying to stay on top of the bills." (04:12)

Alex Garcia (Seattle, WA)

• Owns a historic neighborhood sports pub.
• Struggles to keep prices down despite rising costs—especially for food.
• Observes customers cutting back:

  "I see customers that lose their job, they're on unemployment, used to come in and have, you know, three beers. Now they come in and have one just so they can get some sanity." (05:01)

• Tries not to raise menu prices, fearing loss of customers.

  "We know where we should put our prices but...we just hope we make it up with alcohol...it's this really weird balancing act you have to do." (05:42)

Chuck Lockhart (Whitefield, NH)

• 66, retired veteran, former law enforcement and corrections.
• Selling his house for a more retirement-friendly dwelling.
• On a fixed income, feeling the squeeze hardest on transportation due to rising gas prices

  "It's requiring me to make...some difficult choices. And obviously with the gas prices, it's caused a couple of robbing Peter to pay Paul situations." (04:36)

• Remembers past inflation crises as less complex:

  "Back then...television was free, your phone was in your house...There was just a lot less things that felt necessary. And you could eke by a lot easier, it felt, than it does now." (07:55)

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3. How Americans Are Coping Day-to-Day

• Gig Work and Multi-Tasking:

  • Jennifer cobbles together multiple income streams and lacks health insurance. Forced to make tough choices between essentials:

    "Sometimes I have to decide between paying a bill, like the power bill or buying groceries." (06:17) "I will ask family for help...or do DoorDash or whatever I have to do." (06:46)

• Cutting Back and Consolidating:

  • Chuck in rural NH must meticulously plan all travel due to gas prices:

    "Is this trip necessary or what? Can I double up where I used to make two trips? Can I fit it all into one trip?" (07:11)

• Community and Shared Strain:

  • Alex feels the anxiety among pub customers—economic hardship is not just a personal struggle but a palpable community phenomenon.

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4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On universal hardship:

  • Alex:

    "Doesn't matter where you live in the United States. I think we're all kind of feeling the same pain. ...everyone's just doing their best to get by." (08:46)

• On feeling unseen by economic data:

  • Chuck:

    "Life's a struggle, and it doesn't need to be as difficult as it is. And I don't care what the numbers say coming out of Wall Street or Washington, most of America is struggling." (09:02)

• On shame and the job market:

  • Jennifer:

    "There's a lot of shame heaped on people who are looking for jobs...but I would definitely say just be kind because people need grace in those moments of their life." (09:15)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:26 — Expert analysis on gas price outlook
• 02:39–03:18 — Guest introductions and personal background
• 04:12 — Jennifer on juggling multiple jobs and fear
• 05:01, 05:42 — Alex on business struggles and customer cutbacks
• 07:11 — Chuck on rural realities and planning out trips
• 07:55 — Chuck reminiscing about past economic crises
• 08:46–09:15 — Guests distill what they'd like listeners to understand about Americans' economic struggles

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Conclusion

This episode spotlights the ways in which rising inflation is not just an abstraction but an ever-present factor affecting real people, regardless of location or background. From Jenny's scramble for stability, to Alex balancing empathy and business survival, to Chuck's strategic budgeting and sense of déjà vu, these stories deepen our understanding of how economic pressures ripple through American lives.

"Most of America is struggling." — Chuck Lockhart (09:02)
"People need grace in those moments of their life." — Jennifer Browning (09:15)

Transcript

[A]

It's considered this, where every day we go deep on one big news story today, inflation. Everyone's feeling it. The price of gas on the rise again, nearly on the rise again after President Trump said the ceasefire with Iran had collapsed. With strikes intensifying and a renewed blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. Energy analyst John Kilduff of Again Capital told NPR last week that the price of fuel will most likely continue to climb.

[B]

The discount party at the pump is over. We're not going to see much relief. We should be going back over $4 a gallon, a national average here pretty quickly.

[A]

The spike in gas prices has also helped push annual inflation to its highest levels in three years. That coupled with the increase in food prices, Americans are feeling the pain. Consider this economic data only tells part of the story. We spoke with three people to understand how they are dealing with the high cost of living. From npr, I'm Scott Detrow.

[C]

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[A]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Carvana believes selling your car should be easy. Get a real offer down to the penny picked up from your driveway. You may keep waiting for a catch. There isn't one. Sell [e-mail] Pickup fees may apply. It's consider this from npr. The US War in Iran has caused gas prices to skyrocket. Inflation is at a three year high of 4.2% and wages are not keeping up. To better understand how Americans are coping, we checked in with three people from across the country. Jennifer Browning in Gulfport, Mississippi. Hey, Jennifer.

[D]

Hi.

[A]

Alex Garcia in Seattle, Washington. Alex, thanks for joining us.

[E]

No problem.

[A]

And Chuck Lockhart in Whitefield, New Hampshire. Hey, Chuck.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

I want to start with introductions from all of you. We heard your name, but tell us a little bit about your circumstances, your age, what you do. Jennifer, why don't you start us off?

[D]

Okay. I am Jennifer Browning. I'm 44. I do a lot of things. I'm a substitute teacher during the school year. I do doordash, instacart and recently just started pet sitting as well.

[A]

Oh, man, that's a lot of stuff. We're Going to get back to all of the stuff you're doing in a moment for sure. Alex, how about you? Next.

[E]

Yeah. Hi, I'm Alex Garcia. I own a local sports pub that's been in Seattle since like the 40s. And I have to keep the business going because I have a bunch of starving bartenders who work for me.

[A]

Chuck, how about you?

[B]

Well, I'm retired. I'm 66. I'm an Iraqi veteran. I used to be in law enforcement and corrections. What's happening currently right now in my life is we're selling a house to move into a more retirement friendly type dwelling. So we're, we're consolidating.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. You know, like I said, we talk so much about the numbers and the stats, but I think so many people, the economy is a gut feeling. If it feels good or doesn't feel good, it feels secure. If it doesn't feel secure. Tell me how you're feeling right now, Jennifer, how are you feeling? You mentioned all the different jobs you're working.

[D]

Oh, I actually did forget one during open enrollment season. I am also a licensed health insurance agent. So that's four.

[A]

Four or five you just mentioned then.

[D]

Yes. Basically I'm doing anything I can just to keep a roof over my head. I don't have that sense of security even though I own my mobile home. So yeah, there's a lot of fear all the time of just trying to stay on top of the bills.

[A]

Yeah, that makes sense. Chuck, what about you? Do you feel secure, insecure?

[B]

I feel like I have to be very diligent because I'm on a fixed income. It's requiring me to make sometimes some difficult choices. And obviously with the gas prices, it's caused a couple of robbing Peter to pay Paul situations.

[A]

And Alex, what about you?

[E]

It sometimes feels like we're running a marathon and no matter how hard you work, you can't ever get to the finish line. The weird thing about owning a local neighborhood pub is you really feel it within your customers. Because I see customers that lose their job, they're on unemployment, used to come in and have, you know, three beers. Now they come in and have one just so they can, you know, get some sanity. They'll show up and just socialize. But you feel it, you feel the tension. It's. It's really weird being at a pub where you can really tell that people are worried.

[A]

Yeah. And at the same time, I have to imagine just the food industry, given what it is. You have been seeing the increased cost for everything day to day, minute to minute. Huh?

[E]

We're losing money on everything, and we know where we should put, like, our prices, but we also know that our customers are in the same spot as us. And so we just hope we make it up with alcohol, because if we were to raise the price of our food, you know, I feel like people wouldn't be able to afford it. And so it's this really weird balancing act you have to do.

[A]

Yeah. Jennifer, where do you in your life feel the squeeze specifically the most? What's a thing you have to pay for or plan for that you feel like the cost is just top of mind at every moment?

[D]

I would say in matters of health, because I currently don't have health insurance. So if I, you know, if I am sick or, you know, need just a regular monthly prescription, that's a bit difficult. And then also, you know, sometimes I have to decide between paying a bill, like the power bill or buying groceries.

[A]

What do you do when you have to make that decision?

[D]

I will ask family for help. My mom helps sometimes, or I will do, you know, doordash or whatever I have to do.

[A]

Chuck, you said before that you feel like everything has to be really meticulously planned. You have to think through everything you're going to do. I'm wondering where you feel in this economy right now, what you're thinking about the most as you make those decisions.

[B]

I'd have to say gas prices and transportation. I live in a very rural area, no public transportation. You got to travel at least 10 miles to a grocery store. So when prices started to spike, you started to have to think, you know, is this trip necessary or what? Can I double up where I used to make two trips? Can I fit it all into one trip?

[A]

Chuck, you're the. I say this with respect. You're the senior member of the conversation here. You've got about 20 years on everybody else. But I know you mentioned when you talked to NPR before that you had been thinking about the oil crisis, the inflation crisis, you know, earlier on in your life.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I lived through all of that. And it was difficult because it was a shock and, you know, especially the first one in 73. But the thing that strikes me the most about back then is television was free, your phone was in your house, and you didn't use it. A ton of. There was just a lot less things that felt necessary. And you could eke by a lot easier, it felt, than it does now.

[A]

You know, you're all sharing a lot about your economic situation, and I'm hearing some clear themes from all of you. But let me put this to you. If you could have a listener just understand one thing about your economic situation right now to better understand what we're seeing across the country, what would it be? Alex, I'll start with you just based

[E]

off this conversation alone, like, doesn't matter where you live in the United States. Like, I think we're all kind of feeling the same pain. We're kind of all in it together. Times are tough and everyone's just doing their best to get by.

[A]

Chuck, what about you?

[B]

Life's a struggle, and it doesn't need to be as difficult as it is. And I don't care what the numbers say coming out of Wall street or Washington, most of America is struggling.

[D]

Jennifer, Being someone who has not had stable employment in the past couple of years, there's a lot of shame heaped on people who are looking for jobs. Like, it's in social media. Comments. It is sometimes said by friends or even family, you know, well, meaning, you know, well, you should just do this or you should have done this, this. But I would definitely say just be kind because people need grace in those moments of their life, that is Jennifer

[A]

Browning in Gulfport, Mississippi Chuck Lockhart in Whitefield, New Hampshire, and Alex Garcia in Seattle, Washington. Thank you so much to all of you for talking with us.

[E]

Thanks for having us.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

NPR's Scott Horsley contributed reporting to this episode. It was Produced by Kai McNamee and Karen Zamora with audio engineering by Ted Mebane. Our director is Jonas Adams. It was edited by Tin Beat Ermias. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Scott Detrow.

[C]

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[A]

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