Same here and I am in a low cost of living state.

The investors swooped up all reasonably priced homes which caused rents to rise. Homeowners can’t sell or refinance because of super low interest rates

Everybody is in some way trapped financially by their housing situation. The only people able to shop are upper income, people’s whose homes are paid in full, low incomers with subsidized rents, and trust fund babies. Everyone is nervous about spending money

Rent and utilities and groceries are eating up spending money

When smaller firms want to represent businesses, they decline and go to the fancy firms. They then get upset the fancy firm charged them fancy money.