Coffee prices surged 30% through 2025—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. From groceries to utilities, everyday costs kept climbing faster than most expected. What's driving this? Supply chain pressures, labor costs creeping upward, and persistent demand. For those tracking macro trends, this matters. When purchasing power erodes across the board, it reshapes how people think about asset allocation. Some turn to traditional hedges; others explore alternative stores of value. The real question: how much longer can consumers absorb these increases before behavior shifts? The data tells a story—one that investors across all asset classes should be watching closely.