Higher prices could be killing your credit. Here's what to do about it.

If it feels like every trip to the grocery store or online order for household essentials costs a little more than the last, you’re not imagining it. Although inflation has cooled to a rate of 2.7% year over year as of November 2025, consumers have been bearing the brunt of rising prices for the past few years. Since January 2022, for example, food prices increased 18%, while prescription drug costs increased 7% and apparel increased 5%. Read more: CPI inflation print draws caution from economists: 'It’s ...