As written in the article below by Tami Luhby for CNNMoney, its evident that most Americans are feeling the pinch of inflation over the past 10 years, and are really scared about how its going to affect their future financial security! The article gives several examples of how people are dealing, or not dealing, with inflation and current economic conditions in the U.S., but the bottom line is that many economists don't see any changes coming down the pike to change the tough situation middle-Americans are finding themselves.

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 Why America's Middle Class is Losing Ground by Tami Luhby

"In the wake of the Great Recession, millions of middle-class people are being pinched by stagnating incomes and the increased cost of living. America's median household income has dropped by more than $4,000 since 2000, after adjusting for inflation, and the typical trappings of middle-class life are slipping out of financial reach for many families." 

http://money.cnn.com/2013/03/05/news/economy/middle-class-wages/index.html