Money Matters - How Inflate Eats Your Time

 How much of your year is spent just to earn for survival – not family time or vacations, but rent, groceries, and a used car?

 

We’ve found that Americans now work up to 87 workdays in for those basics, despite 66% wage gains since 2007. According to the recent LendingTree survey, one-third even hope for a housing crash to escape.

 

InvestorsObserver analyzed hourly earnings versus these three essentials across all 50 states from 2007 to 2025.

 

Most states haven’t escaped the squeeze, and many Americans are no longer trading time to progress and thrive – they are trading time for the bare minimum of existence. This explains the growing desperation for relief.

 

This research shows how inflation is costing Americans extra months and years of their lives.

Read the full research report here, including the top 10 most expensive states.

 

ABOUT SAM BOURGI

Sam Bourgi is a finance analyst and researcher at InvestorsObserver, bringing over 13 years of expertise in financial markets, economics, and monetary policy. His professional background spans the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, where he has held positions such as senior policy adviser, labor market analyst, and marketing director. Sam’s in-depth research and market analysis have been referenced by leading institutions and organizations, including the U.S. Congress, Department of Justice, Chicago Board Options Exchange, Bank for International Settlements, Boston University Law Review, Barron’s, and Forbes. Sam regularly appears on TV, including FOX 5 DC, CBN, KFYR TV, 11Alive, and ABC30, and is often quoted by such media outlets as Bloomberg, SF Chronicle and ZeroHedge.

 

ABOUT INVESTORS OBSERVER

InvestorsObserver is a trusted source of independent financial analysis, market insights, and investment research for individuals and institutions. Founded to empower retail investors with actionable intelligence, InvestorsObserver delivers timely commentary, data-driven studies, and accessible financial tools designed to simplify complex market trends. Its research and insights have been featured by various media outlets, including Yahoo, The Guardian, Morning Star, Nasdaq, and more.