The lifestyle in the United States has drastically changed with the raising of health care prices and other factors. Many economists believe that the American middle class is in trouble because average income has drastically decreased while the cost of living has increased. The cost of basic needs such as health care and child care have dramatically risen, causing many families to have to budget every aspect of their lives. The Center for American Progress said that “for a married couple with two children, the costs of key elements of middle-class security… rose by more than $10,000 in the 12 years from 2000-2012,” (Erickson, American Progress), while at the same time, family incomes have remained practically the same. Some researchers attest that the increase of health care prices is the result of …show more content…
Statisticians and suryeyors have predicted that the nation’s eating habits may take a turn for the better, but there are still many problems plaguing the nation. Eating habits may have improved, but health issues caused by obesity and smoking are still prevalent. Smoking rates are at an all-time low which The Gallup explained by showingthat during most of the 1900s around half of the adults in the United States smoked cigarettes, but there was a sharp decline to 25% by the 1990s. Despite popular belief that the rate of smokers could not decrease any further, it did with the percentage going from 25% to 21% between 2001 and 2005. On the other hand, smoking in young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 and individuals between the ages of 50 and older has decreased the most. The Gallup wrote that “this may reflect a decline in smoking among teens- the age at which a lifetime of smoking often starts,” (Saad, The Gallup). With the increase in public awareness and healthy foods these trends may continue to