Gen Z Faces 39.0% Inflation Since 2018 as Fast-Food Prices Jump 53.9%
Updated
Updated · NACS Online · Aug 14
Gen Z Faces 39.0% Inflation Since 2018 as Fast-Food Prices Jump 53.9%
1 articles · Updated · NACS Online · Aug 14
Summary
July data from Numerator showed Gen Z still facing the steepest inflation in everyday household goods, with prices up 39.0% since January 2018 versus 35.1% for low-income consumers.
Quick-service restaurants are a key driver: Gen Z spends more there than the average consumer, and those prices have climbed 53.9% since 2018, far above the 33.2% increase for the overall basket.
Broader inflation cooled in July, with everyday-goods prices up 2.6% from a year earlier versus 3.4% in June, while monthly prices slipped 0.4% after increases in May and June.
Consumers still reported little relief—39% of more than 2,000 surveyed named rising prices as their top concern for the coming year, near May's record high.
Retail sales nevertheless rose for a 10th straight month in July, with NRF reporting a 0.32% monthly gain and a 5.15% year-over-year increase excluding autos and gasoline.