Cost of Living Crisis Hits Middle Class | Portland News

Inflation’s crushing middle-class budgets: A new SmartAsset report reveals that living comfortably in the U.S. now demands staggering incomes—$90K–$100K for a single person in most states, and over $200K for families of four—with Hawaii and Massachusetts topping the list. While six states saw drops in required income (Tennessee leading the decline), the broader economy shows mixed signals—slowing inflation, falling retail sales, and rising unemployment claims, all highlighting how the cost of living is reshaping everyday financial security. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3bd8c81625a588a4