Why is EVERYTHING So Expensive?

Groceries. Rent. Childcare. Utilities. Health Care. The increasing cost of living has been a topic across generations. Over the last century, neither a cause nor solution has been identified. As we head into a new year with midterm elections on the horizon, tariffs shaking global markets, a disrupted farm economy and the national debt at historic highs, the question emerges again: why is everything so expensive?

Explore what this means for communities like Kansas City in a candid, fact-checked conversation about the forces shaping millions of Americans’ wallets. A panel of economic experts will unpack the pressures behind the rising cost of living and examine potential solutions.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The program will start at 6 p.m., followed by a reception.

Free with RSVP | Auditorium and Online

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Hosted in partnership with American Public Square and in conjunction with 2026 Civic Learning Week.