Mahoning Valley & U.S. - The latest economic report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows inflation slowed to 2.4 percent. Gas prices have dipped, some grocery items have stabilized. But economists say the picture is more complicated. 

Consumer spending has slowed, wage growth has remained modest, and prices in areas like air travel and ticket sales are ticking up. 

That mix means the overall inflation number may not reflect what consumers are experiencing in their day to day lives.

"I think you just need to look into it specifically for the things that affect you the most. We can kind of look at that overall number and say, oh yeah, inflation went down year over year. But that doesn't really tell the tell the tale specifically of what affects you," Chair of the School of Business at Westminster College, Bob Badowski said. 

While the report suggests progress nationally, many people in the Mahoning Valley say the cost of living continues to weigh heavily on their budgets.

"It's ridiculous. It's horrible. It's taken everything I've got to go to the store," Fran Connolly said. 

"It is the meals. I mean, when go to the grocery stores...everything seems like it is costing me more every time I go," Henry Tregaskis added.

While inflation has cooled in some areas, experts do not expect dramatic changes ahead.

"Some things are going to increase and some things are going to decrease, but I think the Federal Reserve wants to keep a good eye on it, and if they see it kind of eking up, they'll try to lower interest rates and that's kind of how they control things a bit," Badowski said.