89 Things About Modern Life In America That Would’ve Seemed Absurd Not That Long Ago

One reason people may feel like America has turned into a dystopian movie is rising grocery prices. Many people have struggled to buy the bare necessities because of food costs. 

According to an AP News report in June, food prices have risen 33% in the last six years.

The report also revealed more alarming data, including Texas beef prices. As AP notes, Texas has been the country’s top beef producer. However, as of June, the price of ground beef reached $6.82 per pound. 

For context, it is 79% higher than it was at the beginning of 2019, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Mild inflation is largely an indicator of a healthy, growing economy. Because consumers and businesses feel more confident spending money, prices rise. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a stable inflation rate is 2%. 

However, higher inflation rates in recent months have become a burden for most working-class Americans. According to an AP report at the beginning of this month, consumer prices rose as much as 3.4% as of August.

What hurts many Americans is that as inflation rises, unemployment is climbing too. To add insult to injury, mortgage prices are rising too. 

For context, the average long-term mortgage rate is currently 7.28%, up from 6.34% last year. Meanwhile, federal, state, and local governments eliminated 17,000 jobs in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 4.2%, up slightly from 4.1% in August.

These images alone may give a certain impression of what life in America is like today. While they tell only part of the story, they can also make someone ask, “When did this all become normal?” 

As bleak as things may seem, here’s hoping a thriving country like the United States doesn't turn fully dystopian, as some may fear.