The U.S. economy is the envy of the world, with strong growth, easing prices and a robust job market, but voters heading to the polls Tuesday are more likely to be thinking about their experiences with once-in-a-lifetime inflation.

The pandemic-related run-up in prices has made American life costlier and loomed large over the presidential election. Over the past four years, grocery prices have risen by 22 percent, while utilities and new homes have gone up 28 percent. Although wages have also risen and inflation has come down dramatically, many families are still struggling to catch up.