"I feel like we've tightened the budget a little, trying to maximize," Amanda Dowdy said.
While overall inflation cooled, specific items saw significant jumps, such as coffee and beef. Egg prices fell 13% compared to the previous year.
Retail sales also remained flat in October. For Dowdy, she shared how she's shopping differently this year.
"Shopping more deals," Dowdy said. "I'm trying to track the online stuff as opposed to in-person, and then comparing it to in-person shopping."
Although November's inflation is the lowest its been in months, experts say it's still higher than pre-Covid. In addition, the slowing job market is leading to economic uncertainty, according to Gerald Cohen at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
"We're kind of stuck at this somewhat higher level of inflation," Cohen said. "There's a lot of uncertainty about the job market."
The report also comes as organizations are responding to food security concerns in the Bull City.
Communities in Partnership (CIP) hosted its monthly food giveaway for its members on Thursday.
"We've started seeing more and more people from outside of our community, as well as more and more people in our community coming to us for food assistance," Cassandra Smith said. "It's really important for us to make sure that we connect with community."
According to Cohen, rate cuts could help the economy, but uncertainty remains. The Fed will meet again to adjust interest rates next month, according to ABC News.
"We're starting from this period of a slow job market and elevated inflation," Cohen said. "Every cut helps."