Economy

Rising cost of basic necessities could widen a gap between the well-off and everyone else

January 14, 2026

In December, the prices of basic household necessities increased despite overall inflation remaining stable, disproportionately impacting lower-income individuals. While economists noted improvements in core inflation, essential items continued to see rising costs, contributing to a widening economic gap.

Rising cost of basic necessities could widen a gap between the well-off and everyone else

Credit: Nbcnews

Key Highlights

Household necessities prices rose in December 2026.
Overall inflation remained steady during the same period.
Lower-income groups were most affected by rising prices.
Core inflation showed signs of stabilization, excluding food and energy costs.
Grocery prices increased across five major food categories.

Sources

Rising cost of basic necessities could widen a gap between the well-off and everyone else

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

Rising cost of basic necessities could widen a gap between the well-off and everyone else

Key Highlights

Sources

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