<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - The secret to shopping at Target and only buying what you need"/><ul class="gnt_ar_sh"><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Inflation is finally easing, but the relief may be coming too late for many consumers.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">They've already traded down and cut luxuries. Now, they're digging deeper to stretch their money.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Some have started cutting back on spending on their kids or walked away empty handed in stores.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Inflation is finally <a target="_blank" href="/story/money/2022/12/13/cpi-report-shows-inflation-eased-again-but-stayed-high-november/10885327002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">showing signs of cooling</a>, but subtle shifts in how Americans are shopping might be flashing warnings that the relief isn't enough to ease the strain on their finances this holiday season. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">While economists have mostly focused on shoppers trading down to store brands or cutting spending on nonessential items like recreational activities and home furnishings, a deeper dive into how consumers are shopping shows many of them are no longer just trying to save money but practically living paycheck to paycheck. As of November, 63% of Americans were living that way, according to a monthly LendingClub report. That's up from 60% in October and near the year's peak of 64% in March.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Even as inflation has <a target="_blank" href="/story/money/2022/12/13/cpi-report-shows-inflation-eased-again-but-stayed-high-november/10885327002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">slowed to 7.1% in the 12 months to November</a> from a <a target="_blank" href="/videos/news/nation/2022/07/13/us-inflation-hits-highest-rate-4-decades/10049814002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">40-year of high of 9.1%</a> in June, Americans have already buckled under the weight of it. More people are timing purchases around paychecks and maybe, even leaving kids wanting more this holiday, data shows.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The economy has shifted away from a phase when shoppers could buy whatever they wanted,<strong> </strong>said Marshal Cohen, chief retail industry adviser for analytics firm NPD."Now the rising cost of living is leaving its mark."</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">Inflation...</strong></p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMieWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnVzYXRvZGF5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9tb25leS9wZXJzb25hbGZpbmFuY2UvMjAyMi8xMi8xOC93aHktaW5mbGF0aW9uLWVhc2luZy10b28tbGF0ZS1tYW55LWNvbnN1bWVycy8xMDkwNDI1MDAwMi_SAQA?oc=5">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
