Consumers have been hit hard by inflation at grocery stores.
Consumers have been hit hard by inflation at grocery stores. AFP / Frederic J. BROWN

There was some news that completely went under the radar last week.

Mark Zandi. chief economist at Moody's Analytics, indicated that the current rate of inflation has inflicted serious financial pain for middle-class families.

For households with America's median annual income of about $70,000, they have been forced to spend $175 more every month on housing, fuel and food.

Having government officials repeatedly describe the accelerating inflation as "transitory" is little comfort for a population dealing with inflation running at a 30-year high.

The New York Post published a graphic showing the price increases of several items purchased every day by American consumers.

The comparisons were based on the fact that analyst Chuck Grom of Gordon Haskett Equity Research studied prices at Dollar General in the Southwest and Family Dollar stores in the Northeast to show increases in the price of goods from 2020 to 2021.

They include:

12-pack of Pepsi ($3.33 to $5.95).

Dozen Grade-A eggs ($1.25 to $1.50).

Pringles can ($1.50 to $1.70).

Pop Tarts ($2 to $2.25).

A-1 Steak Sauce ($4.75 to $5).

Smucker's strawberry jam ($3.75 to $3.85).

Folger's ground coffee ($7.95 to $8.80),

Kraft Philadelphia cream cheese ($3.15 to $3.40).

Dove body wash ($6.75 to $7.50).

Ajax cleanser ($1 to $2).

The following increases were documented by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Gallon of gas ($2.19 to $3.19).

One pound of ground beef ($4.27 to $4.51).

One pound of boneless chicken breast ($3.39 to $4.24).

One gallon of whole milk ($3.38 to $3.93).