price increases add up, and hit low-income families much, much harder than high-income ones

TWENTY BUCKS MORE ON GROCERIES, A HUNDRED MORE ON RENT, A THOUSAND MORE FOR A USED CAR. SUCH PRICE INCREASES ADD UP, AND HIT LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MUCH, MUCH HARDER THAN HIGH-INCOME ONES. BIGGER SHARES OF POOR FAMILIES’ BUDGETS GO TO NECESSITIES, AND IT IS EASIER FOR THE WEALTHY TO TRADE DOWN OR COMPARISON SHOP. (SWITCHING OUT WHOLE FOODS FOR SAFEWAY IS SIMPLE; SWITCHING OUT FAMILY DOLLAR FOR ANYTHING CHEAPER IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE.)