After spiking to the highest level in 40 years, inflation has eased significantly. That has helped lower the pressure on American households and businesses straining to meet the rising costs of groceries, cars, plane tickets, office equipment and everything in between. But falling inflation doesn't mean prices are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Policymakers are fighting to keep prices from rising too fast. But even if prices aren't going up as rapidly as they were, a gallon of milk or a new house will cost a lot more than it did not that long ago.