Rent Prices Continue to Climb in Major Cities Across the United States Inflation is the number one reason that many Americans are struggling to afford rent in many cities around the world. Our country has never seen so many people dying in the streets from the inability to support themselves due to a lack of jobs and resources. The United States unemployment rate is at a ten year low with an average of 4.1, but many Americans continue to struggle to afford rent. This is primarily due to the influx of new jobs that pay less than cost of living