 to cover everyday emergencies. The truth is people just don't become debt-free when they're trying to do 17 things at once. So you need that focus intensity to get there. And as of April 2024, the Consumer Price Index, which measures the changes in the cost of consumer services and goods, had risen 3.4% on an annual basis. Within that index, food costs were up 2.2%. Shelter was up 5.5%. They're saying all of this is putting a strain on American households in that middle income range, 67% of whom say their income is falling behind the cost of living.