This post is part of a series chronicling news coverage of rising prices in the United States. See more here.
KCEN Central Texas reports that inflation is forcing people “to stretch their dollar even farther”
Local woman: “Prices have doubled and tripled on a lot of the basic necessities”
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Citation
From a May 14, 2026, video uploaded to the YouTube channel of KCEN
BAYLEE BATES (ANCHOR): Prices are now rising faster than wages for the first time since 2023. And now more people in Central Texas are searching for help to make ends meet. 6 News reporter Sydni Walker was at Connolly High School at a food distribution event to hear from people on how they are dealing with this inflation.
SYDNI WALKER (REPORTER): From gas prices to grocery store aisles, the cost of living is at a high.
...
WALKER: It's getting harder to make ends meet.
PERSON 1: Prices have doubled and tripled on a lot of the basic necessities.
WALKER: The inflation rate for April was 3.8%, the highest in nearly three years.
RAY PERRYMAN (ECONOMIST): Your paycheck this month will not buy as much as your paycheck last month.
WALKER: Economist Ray Perryman said prices are rising faster than wages.
PERRYMAN: What your wages will buy is actually going down.
WALKER: In part, it's due to the conflict in Iran. The high oil prices are trickling down into several markets.
PERRYMAN: A lot of other things that consumers buy, the cosmetics, adhesives, paint.
WALKER: Not just gas or food.
ANN OWEN (CARITAS OF WACO DIRECTOR): If you're worrying about putting food on your table, there are lots of other things that you're also worrying about.
WALKER: Ann Owen with Caritas says in the past few months, more people have been coming to them for help.
OWEN: We have a lot of people calling for rental assistance, asking us if we can help them actually find affordable housing, assistance with transportation, prescription medication.
WALKER: But Perryman says it won't last forever.
PERRYMAN: Once we get past this conflict, you will see the oil prices comes down, which will make the gasoline prices and a lot of other prices have less pressure.
WALKER: In the meantime, Central Texans will have to stretch their dollar even farther.