Why Your Streaming Bills Are Still Creeping Up Despite Lower CPI

Episode 133 of Inflation Explained with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dig into a stubborn corner of your budget: streaming services. Despite headline CPI cooling and even falling, prices for Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+ have quietly climbed 6-8% over the past year. Using fresh July 2026 data — CPI at 332.6, down from 333.98, and Fed funds steady at 3.63% — they unpack why content costs are defying the broader disinflation trend. The hosts trace the economics: how studios' debt loads from the streaming wars are forcing price hikes, why sports rights bidding wars are pushing up bundles, and what the new 'with ads' tiers mean for your monthly bill. They also connect this to the Fed's preferred PCE measure, which ticked up in May, and the surprising 2026 World Cup boost for bars and restaurants noted in the latest Fed Beige Book. If you've noticed your wallet feels lighter even as inflation headlines improve, this one explains why. A Fexingo Business podcast episode. #Inflation #CPI #StreamingServices #Netflix #Spotify #DisneyPlus #CostOfLiving #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Fed #PCE #WorldCup #ContentCosts #SportsRights #Disinflation #Budgeting #ConsumerPrices Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo