Inflation

Ibotta launches its sixth annual “Thanksgiving on Us” campaign on November 1, 2025, offering cash-back rewards on Thanksgiving grocery essentials amid rising inflation concerns. New users can potentially earn over $22 in rewards on staples. Existing users get cashback on side dishes and turkey opportunities via referrals. Ibotta is also donating $50,000 to Feeding America’s Community Response Fund. The company aims to ease financial strain on families and reinforces its commitment to social responsibility.

Primerica’s Household Budget Index (HBI) for September 2025 reached 100.4%, a 0.2% monthly increase and 0.6% year-over-year rise, indicating sustained pressure on middle-income household budgets. While the general CPI increased by 3.0%, inflation for middle-income families, as reflected in the HBI, rose to 3.4%. Essential costs for this group increased 3.2% year-over-year. The ongoing government shutdown introduces uncertainty in future data collection. The HBI tracks necessities costs and earned income, using 2019 as the baseline.

Stocks rallied for a second week, hitting record highs, driven by encouraging inflation data (September CPI) and strong corporate earnings. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose 2% and 2.3% respectively. Lower-than-expected CPI data suggests potential Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. Approximately 87% of S&P 500 companies reporting have exceeded earnings expectations. Companies like Danaher, Capital One, and GE Vernova contributed to the positive trend. Next week’s earnings releases from major companies will be closely watched.

Key market movers include a slightly cooled inflation rate boosting sentiment, Intel’s resurgence driven by PC and AI demand, and positive implications for data storage companies. P&G exceeded earnings expectations, while Beyond Meat faces skepticism. Quantum computing stocks show continued promise. Ford saw a price target increase, while Deckers Outdoors experienced a share decline. Union Pacific’s target price was raised, anticipating industry consolidation. Target and Applied Materials announced significant layoffs, reflecting restructuring efforts.

Primerica’s Household Budget Index™ (HBI™) indicates increasing financial strain on middle-income families. The August reading shows a 0.1% monthly and 0.8% yearly rise, reflecting a 3.3% inflation rate tailored to middle-income spending, exceeding the overall CPI. Rising costs of essential goods (food, utilities, gasoline, insurance, healthcare) are outpacing wage growth, disproportionately affecting this demographic. Primerica emphasizes the HBI™’s importance for informed policymaking to address the economic challenges faced by over 55% of the U.S. population. The HBI™ utilizes data from various government sources.

South Korea’s minimum hourly wage will rise to ₩10,320 ($7.80 USD) in 2026, a 2.9% increase. The minimum monthly wage will be ₩2,156,880 ($1,630 USD). Despite this, high living costs, especially for food items like watermelons (averaging $25 USD) and napa cabbage (up 68% monthly), significantly impact purchasing power. Many low-income Seoul residents struggle to save, and the middle class faces similar challenges compared to some Chinese workers. This illustrates the tension between wage growth and rising expenses.

Soaring temperatures in South Korea are driving up the prices of essential agricultural products. Watermelon prices jumped 17.6% to $25.50 USD, while napa cabbage, a key ingredient in kimchi, has surged 68% in a month. The price hikes have sparked online discussions, with some noting the disparity with cheaper watermelon prices in other countries, leading South Korean tourists abroad to prioritize enjoying the fruit.

U.S. beef prices are soaring to record highs due to trade tariffs, drought, and rising feed costs, potentially leading to the most expensive burgers in history. Ground beef prices surged to $13.49 per kilogram in June, a 12% increase year-over-year. Steak prices are also rising. A new 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, effective August 1st, will further inflate prices, potentially raising the total tax burden on Brazilian beef to 76%. Some businesses are reducing patty sizes to cope with the increased costs.

Lemon prices are soaring, with triple-digit increases reported in China. Wholesale prices have surged significantly due to increased demand, export volumes, and crop issues. This rise impacts both consumers and beverage businesses, with tea shops facing losses on lemon-infused drinks. Retail prices reflect this trend, and the high costs are projected to persist through summer.