Recently, a popular post on social media has sparked widespread attention, revealing significant changes in the American economy over the past five years. A netizen compared the prices of 30 basic daily necessities in the Walmart app and found that from 2020 to August 2025, the total price of these items surged from $70.20 to $165.42, an increase of 135.6%.

This astonishing increase is not only reflected in everyday consumer goods, but the asset market has also shown remarkable growth. Bitcoin surged from $7,200 at the beginning of 2020 to $117,600 in August 2025, an increase of an astonishing 1,530%. During the same period, the Nasdaq index rose from about 11,000 points to about 21,170 points, a growth of 92%. The price of gold also rose from $1,590 per ounce to $3,370, an increase of 112%.

However, there seems to be a significant discrepancy between these price increases and the growth of the money supply. Data from the Federal Reserve shows that the M2 money supply increased from about $15.3 trillion at the beginning of 2020 to about $22.0 trillion in June 2025, a cumulative growth of 44% over five years.

This phenomenon raises a thought-provoking question: why can asset and commodity prices double or even increase several times when the M2 money supply has only grown by 44%? This phenomenon reveals the imbalances in the economic system and suggests that wealth distribution may become more unequal.

Simple mathematical logic indicates that when the average increase is 44%, there must be projects with increases far exceeding this figure, which also implies that certain sectors may have experienced actual declines. This uneven growth pattern could lead to profound changes in the socioeconomic structure, affecting the quality of life and economic expectations of the populace.

This phenomenon highlights the complex interactions between monetary policy, asset pricing, and the real economy. It has not only raised concerns about inflation, asset bubbles, and economic sustainability but also posed significant challenges for policymakers and economists.

In such an economic environment, ordinary people may face the pressure of rising daily living costs, while asset holders may benefit from the soaring value of their assets. This differentiated economic experience could exacerbate the wealth gap in society, leading to broader socio-economic issues.

As the discussions sparked by this data continue to heat up, one cannot help but ask: Is this economic growth model sustainable? How should policymakers respond to this imbalance? How should ordinary citizens protect their wealth in such an economic environment? The answers to these questions will profoundly impact the economic direction and social development in the coming years.