Of course, the idea of things being better ignores the fact that the data _saying_ it's better isn't making clear that it's only better in specific segments (front-line workers as far as I can tell), and not most of them.

That said, the rest of what you say is on point. The cost of everything is absurd, people like avoiding paying benefits by claiming they are contractors (all gigs) or not giving them full-time work, and yeah too many people have to work multiple jobs to barely scrape by.