Long Islanders are trying to cope with rising prices as inflation has hit a 40-year high.

The Labor Department reported Friday that consumer prices soared 8.6% in May from a year earlier.

The problems are being faced by Long Islanders of all ages. James Ciulla, 85, relies on a charity to get food on the table.

"Oh, forget it, go to the grocery store, it costs you an arm and a leg," says Ciulla, a Coram resident.

Alexa Sanchez, of Melville, is putting her dreams of owning a home on hold because she can't afford it.

"I'm stuck in a rut, the biggest pothole ever that I can't get out," Sanchez says.

Sanchez, her husband and 2-year-old daughter are living in her parent's house as she teaches at Walt Whitman High School.

She says she is looking for a second job to save money to buy a house.

Even food pantries like Branches Long Island are finding it difficult to keep their shelves stocked because their regular donors can't afford to donate anymore.

"Because people who used to donate to us now need to save their funds to feed their families so we have less food coming in for us here," says Katie Dunphy, of Branches Long Island.

Experts say the new inflation figure will put pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates aggressively, which will mean higher-cost loans for consumers and businesses.