But here’s what’s really going on: food, education, and even ‘religious services by priests’ are spiking prices. Rice inflation? 8x higher than wheat. Education costs? Nearly double the national rate. Experts say TN’s reliance on imported food and gold-linked personal care spending are key drivers. And yes; election-year policies might be quietly adding fuel to the fire. For job-seekers and salary negotiators: if your city’s inflation is rising faster than the rest, your real income may be shrinking; even if your salary stays the same. Watch the CPI, not just the pay slip.