And how has the cost of living/housing/transportation increased? And not just over 5 years. Over decades. How much more are they actually saving compared to 10 or 20 years ago? The reason why your points are considered "gaslighting" by others is because you are addressing the wrong questions.
I have found that it largely depends on class. If you are a blue collar or middle class worker, things have been getting worse for several decades now. If you are upper-middle class or richer, there may be more ebbs and flows in how you experience the economy.