Aug 28, 2025
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Over the past few years, Americans have felt the sting of rising grocery bills. While there are many factors behind food inflation, the Democratic Party tried to pin the blame squarely on the current commander in chief, President Donald Trump.
In a now-deleted post, the X account for the Democratic National Committee shared a chart claiming “U.S. Grocery Prices Reached Record Highs in 2025,” noting that prices were “higher today than they were on July 2024 [in all] major categories.” The caption? Just two words: “Trump’s America.”
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But the post quickly backfired.
Users on X pointed out that the chart showed data stretching from October 2019 to early 2025 — and the steepest rise in prices clearly occurred in 2021, when Joe Biden was in office.
While this may go down as a major social media blunder, it doesn’t change one harsh truth: grocery prices have surged. And while the pace of increase may be slowing, many essential items are still significantly more expensive than they were just a few years ago.
According to the June 2025 Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the food index went up 3.0% over the past 12 months. Beef and veal prices surged 10.6%, chicken rose 3.9%, and eggs spiked a whopping 27.3%.
Zoom out, and the picture is even grimmer: since the beginning of 2020, the food index has climbed 30%. Economists often point to COVID-era supply chain disruptions, stimulus checks and loose monetary policy as key contributors to the inflation spike in 2021.
But regardless of who's in power, one reality remains: inflation quietly erodes your purchasing power.
The good news? Savvy investors have long turned to certain assets to shield their wealth from inflation’s bite. Here’s a look at how they do it.
Gold
Gold has helped people preserve their wealth throughout history. Today, its appeal is simple: unlike fiat currencies, the yellow metal can’t be printed at will by central banks.
It’s also widely regarded as the ultimate safe haven. Gold is not tied to any one country, currency or economy, and in times of economic turmoil or geopolitical uncertainty, investors often flock to it — driving prices higher.
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Over the past 12 months, the price of the precious metal has surged around 35%.
Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly emphasized gold’s importance in a resilient portfolio.
“People don't have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” he told CNBC earlier this year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”
One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Thor Metals.
Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, which combines the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an attractive option for those looking to potentially hedge their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.
To learn more, you can get a free information guide that includes details on how to get up to $20,000 in free metals on qualifying purchases.
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Real estate
Gold isn’t the only asset investors rely on to preserve their purchasing power. Real estate has also proven to be a powerful hedge.
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When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that can adjust with inflation.
Over the past five years, the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index has jumped by more than 50%, reflecting strong demand and limited housing supply.
Of course, high home prices can make buying a home more challenging, especially with mortgage rates still elevated. And being a landlord isn’t exactly hands-off work — managing tenants, maintenance and repairs can quickly eat into your time (and returns).
The good news? You don’t need to buy a property outright — or deal with leaky faucets — to invest in real estate today. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns or handling difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase, and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
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Another option is Homeshares, which gives accredited investors access to the $35-trillion U.S. home equity market — a space that’s historically been the exclusive playground of institutional investors.
With a minimum investment of $25,000, investors can gain direct exposure to hundreds of owner-occupied homes in top U.S. cities through their U.S. Home Equity Fund — without the headaches of buying, owning or managing property.
With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach provides an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.
Stretch your dollars on everyday essentials
At the end of the day, grocery inflation is just one piece of the puzzle. From rent and utilities to gas and dining out, the cost of living has climbed across the board — leaving many Americans feeling squeezed.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to keep a close eye on your spending — and look for savings where you can.
One simple way to do that? Use platforms like the Upside cash-back app to save on everyday essentials like gas and groceries.
After downloading the app, simply claim offers at locations near you. For example, users can earn up to 25 cents back per gallon on fuel, helping to ease the sting at the pump.
Plus, you can also get a bonus 25 cents off per gallon with the code MONEYWISE25 on your first transaction when you sign up.
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Jing is an investment reporter for MoneyWise. He is an avid advocate of investing for passive income. Despite the ups and downs he’s been through with the markets, Jing believes that you can generate a steadily increasing income stream by investing in high quality companies.
