As we move through the mid-2020s, a pattern has solidified: years of post-pandemic recovery have failed to ease American consumer anxiety about economic conditions. The inflation narrative keeps resurfacing, and it's not just complaints—household surveys consistently show mounting pressure on purchasing power.

Rising living costs remain the elephant in the room. Whether it's energy, groceries, or housing, the squeeze persists. This pessimism isn't temporary noise; it's becoming the baseline expectation as we head into 2026.

Why does this matter for Web3 observers? Because macroeconomic stress shapes asset flows. When traditional consumers lose faith in economic stability, alternative asset classes—including crypto—often see increased attention from retail and institutional players hedging against inflation erosion. The cost-of-living crisis isn't fading away; expect it to remain a defining force in how people think about wealth preservation and investment allocation.