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(Iowa) -- A new report shows inflation cooling last month in the Midwest.
The study from non-partisan research organization Common Sense Institute shows inflation in the Midwest fell to 2.4% percent in January of this year, down from December 2025's inflation rate of 2.7%. January's inflation rate is the lowest seen in the Midwest region since 2021.
Consumer prices continue to rise, up 26.1% since 2020. The CSI report shows the average Iowa family is now spending almost $1,283 a month more than they did in 2020 just to maintain the same standard of living.
Ben Murrey with Common Sense Institute of Iowa says the state has recently hit an inflation-related milestone in cost of living:
"We actually just hit the $50,000 dollar mark. How much extra people have paid in the cost of living since 2020 just to maintain their standard of living. So a typical Iowa family over the last five years or so, since 2020, has had to spend an extra $50,000 just to live the same way."
The full report is available on Common Sense Institute's website.