On the surface, December's inflation readings seemed manageable. The Consumer Price Index came in at 2.7% year-over-year—flat compared to November, with prices ticking up just 0.3% on a monthly basis.

But here's the thing: those headline numbers don't capture what's actually happening at the checkout counter. While official figures suggest inflation is cooling, real-world expenses for everyday essentials keep climbing, putting genuine pressure on household budgets. The gap between what the data says and what people experience in their wallets remains stubbornly wide. For crypto traders monitoring macro conditions, these nuances in inflation trends matter more than the surface-level calm might suggest.