It's the economy

Aaargh. Groan. Sigh.

Skyrocketing prices for everything from gas, utilities and food to tuition, trash pickup and health insurance have left many Angelenos frustrated, outraged and downright fed up.Julia Scott in the Daily News.

And even if you can still afford a $3 latte, today's economic pressures can seem overwhelming.

"The prices all across the board went up quickly at the same time, and that's sort of a slap across the face," said Neal Frankle, who manages $95million in investments at Wealth Resources Group in Woodland Hills.

His clients, middle-class working families and retirees, are making ends meet but rethinking discretionary spending, such as for vacations, dining out or the latest handbag.