If you've recently spent time on planet Earth, chances are that you’re no stranger to the soaring prices of, well, just about anything. These spikes are topping our expectations and pushing the already soaring U.S. inflation to extreme levels. According to the Labor Department, the May consumer price index (CPI), which measures cost changes in food, gas, housing, and many other goods and services, rose 8.6 percent over the last 12 months. That’s the highest it’s been since 1981. And we, the general folk, are definitely feeling the pressure.