More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Compared to pre-pandemic prices, ground beef is up 35%, chips are up 45%, bread is up 57% and a 12-ounce can of soda is up 66%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which tracks trends on common grocery store items.

WRAL Investigates: 'Greedflation' and other drivers behind inflation at the grocery store

A look at inflation at the grocery store

 Anna Fader, 37, and her children, James Eigerman, 4, and Amelia Eigerman, 8, pose in their home, Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 in New York. Fader runs the blog Mommy Poppins, about how to raise kids in New York City without over-spending, and has advice about not spoiling your children at the holidays. (AP Photo/Hillary Rhodes)

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