Kitchen Table Economics: American Families and the Affordability Challenge

American families are navigating complex tradeoffs as costs of essentials strain household budgets. Housing expenses are fundamentally reshaping where people can afford to live. Grocery bills have climbed and health-care cost increases, felt in high deductibles, prescription drugs, and rising insurance premiums, create added pressure. Layered on top are childcare expenses, transportation costs, education debt, and utilities—the full range of kitchen table concerns that force painful choices between necessities. This session will examine how these affordability pressures intersect and compound, how they vary across different communities and demographics, and what market-based and policy solutions show the most promise for strengthening household economic security.