New York —

Most Americans agree: This economy stinks .

Practically every consumer sentiment survey and political poll points to that theme. People feel like their dollars aren’t stretching as far as before, and the cost of living is rising beyond their means.

There’s just one problem: That part is not true.

Most Americans are getting raises that outpace overall inflation. It’s not even a new trend. It’s been happening each month since June 2023.

So, why do people feel so lousy about their finances if they’re getting wealthier?

A number of key factors are at play, and most of them are messing with our minds more than our wallets.

Paycheck gains are shrinking as inflation heats up again.

The pandemic screwed with our collective psychology. Americans got a brief taste of financial

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