Inflation

If your expectations are high for something you spent $1 in 2024, then you might be in the wrong store.

Just this year, grocery prices jumped 0.1% month over month and are 2.4% higher than they were a year ago.

Many cities in Montana have gas prices far below $4 a gallon, and you don't even need to fill up at a Costco or Sam's Club to find it. Regular gas stations (as of April 13th) are showing prices as low as $3.67 a gallon.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has wreaked havoc in oil prices, and consequently in gas prices at the pump here in Missoula, and throughout the country.

With inflation higher than it has been in over 40 years, the Federal Reserve will have to take some hard steps to bring the situation under control, and it won’t be pretty or easy for Montanans.