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People where I work feel the same as you do. Salaries have been 0.5 to 1.0 percentage points under inflation for the last 4 years. Health insurance costs have gone up dramatically. For two of those years, take home pay, even after raises, has gone down because of health insurance costs. Add to that raises less than inflation and people are getting squeezed. Home owners insurance just doubled for most people here in FL. It is difficult. Changing jobs is a good idea, but the ratio of upwardly mobile positions (with greater paychecks) are small compared to the number of people seeking upward mobility. My company cannot even attract the engineers and scientists we need to our location because wages aren't high enough for the inflated housing market. The only bright side is that my employer increased bonuses by about 40% so there is some bright outlook as long as the company does exceedingly well. But bonuses cannot be relied upon as steady income.

The bottom line is that if people are making less and less compared to inflation, there is less disposable income available for consumption and the system will reach a breaking point. The only bright side is that increasing cheaper imports from China is somewhat of a relief. But that also feeds the negative feedback loop. The cheaper goods cause more job losses in the U.S., and puts more downward pressure on wages. Eventually, the price drops will not be made up for the loss in wages and even Chinese goods will beome less affordable.

A few months ago Walmart of all groups called for an increase in the minimum wage for this reason. When they are worried htat the cheap plastic crap they sell will become out of the reach of consumers then we should all take notice.

Same thing here also. Pretty much through out the Midwest.

From friends and colleagues on the coasts, they are feeling the same pressures. The energy spike slammed everyone.