Seattle Family Sells Crown Hill Home as 4.5% Inflation Outpaces U.S. Rate

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 15

Liesl Gatcheco and her husband are selling their Crown Hill home and downsizing after a year of tighter spending on groceries, gas, insurance and housing.
Seattle-area consumer prices rose 4.5% in June from a year earlier, easing from 4.9% in April but still topping the 3.5% U.S. inflation rate; restaurant prices climbed 6.2%.
The squeeze is hitting even higher-income households: Gatcheco’s esthetics business has slowed, while her husband’s Microsoft job feels less secure after 4,800 Xbox and sales layoffs and 15,000 cuts in 2025.
Other residents told The Seattle Times they are driving less after gas hit $6 a gallon and skipping takeout after a single delivery meal topped $40 with taxes, fees and tip.
Mayor Katie Wilson’s office said affordability and inequality remain urgent priorities, pointing to proposals on renter junk fees, transit, school meals and utility discounts.