(NewsNation) — Rising costs continue to squeeze American households, with prices climbing across groceries, gas and health insurance.

Beef prices have jumped for numerous reasons, including a shrinking U.S. cattle herd, drought, consumer demand, and inflation. Ground beef prices are nearing $7 per pound, up $0.63 since July 2025, and sirloin steaks have jumped to nearly $15 per pound, up $1.04 since July 2025.

Food prices in July 2026 were 3% higher than in July 2025, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.

The ongoing war in Iran has led to rising gas prices, with the national average currently at about $4.14, nearly a dollar higher than it was just a year ago, according to AAA.

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Healthcare costs are expected to rise 8.2% in 2027 — the biggest increase since 2003 — per insurance broker and risk management group Marsh. It'd mark the fifth straight year healthcare costs increased, after a 6.7% increase in 2026. Marsh attributes the cost increase to advances in diagnostics and therapeutics, a rise in GLP-1 use, and the "rapid adoption" of AI software.

Energy costs are also on the rise, jumping 14.7% over the past 12 months, with electricity rising 4.2%, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows.

The increase in these non-negotiables has some people fighting back, including Raelynn and Tucker McMurchy.

The Oklahoma couple decided to start a Change.org petition calling on Oklahoma regulators to crack down on soaring power bills, after receiving an electric bill of $1,373.

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"Our electric bill is literally more than our rent this month," Raelynn said in a TikTok video. "I make decent money, and that's not sustainable for my family. That's crazy."

The McMurchys appeared on "NewsNation Prime" Sunday to detail their ordeal.

"I initially thought it was a mistake and quickly went over it and just shock," Raelynn said. "And then I just needed to know if it was just me or other people were going through it. And it turns out so many people are."

The McMurchys say the stories they've been hearing from others in their community make the whole situation worse.

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"I've had the saddest messages of people saying they've had to pawn things to pay this bill, just saying that even last month wasn't this high since we've started the petition," Raelynn said. "We've gotten a whole round of new bills, and they're even higher. We're talking like one-bedroom apartments in the $700s, and it's just completely unsustainable."

"For people with kids that might be staying at home, who are watching kids, maybe special needs kids that require more electricity, things like that," Tucker added. "Just the thought about them having their power shut off, it's heartbreaking."

"It feels like we're paying for something, you know, that we're not seeing," Tucker said. "And there's just, in no world, can we be paying a monthly electric bill like that. It seems like other states are having the same problem and, you know, they're having disconnections."

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As for their own bill, Raelynn said, 'We just pay it and move on. I just think about the people who can't.

Back in July, a survey conducted by Harris Poll for The Guardian found that 95% of U.S. adults believe the country is facing an affordability crisis. Nearly half of all Democrats, Republicans, and Independents surveyed noted having had issues affording the price of necessary goods like gas and food.

NewsNation's Andrew Dorn, Sarah Davis, and The Hill contributed to this article. 

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