Inflation signals persist despite political claims, credit card costs rise sharply

A major credit card issuer raised its annual fee by 45% while simultaneously devaluing rewards points by 33%, creating an effective price increase of over 116% that goes unmeasured in official inflation metrics. Such hidden price increases across consumer services highlight the gap between headline inflation data and actual spending pressures. This dynamic is relevant to crypto markets, where investors often cite real-world inflation concerns as justification for alternative asset allocation.