It's difficult to notice inflation living in NYC because everything is just expensive. If a coffee or a slice of pizza or a bagel goes up by 20%, that's less than a buck on average, and prices among those products already vary by a lot more than buck. So it's never going to be a shocking increase. Or even noticeable. Combine that with the resignation that most New Yorkers have to the fact that shit is just expensive, and it's hard to really feel an impact from all this inflation that the media has been blaring about for a year. Am I spending slightly more day-to-day than I did a year or two ago? Probably, but I'd be hard-pressed to prove it. I guess it's more obvious if you make a chart!
I am just always broke. But yes, families are likely purchasing many of the same items at the same locations each week and can both see and feel the difference. But the vast majority of people I know in NY are single or childless and they seem, like me, to consider their paycheck forfeit to the city and it's infinite offerings.
