Iran’s rial fell to a new record low on Friday as pressure from tighter sanctions, weaker oil exports and stubborn inflation continued to batter the economy. The currency’s slide underscores the deepening financial strain facing ordinary Iranians, who are seeing prices climb while wages lag behind.

According to Reuters, annual inflation has now risen above 50%, adding fresh pressure on households already struggling with higher food, housing and transportation costs. The currency’s decline also reflects reduced hard-currency earnings, with oil revenues under strain as sanctions tighten and export options narrow.

The latest drop adds to a long-running economic crisis that has hit workers, pensioners and small businesses hardest. For many families, each new fall in the rial translates into another jump in the cost of daily essentials, worsening a situation that has already eroded purchasing power and savings.

The worsening outlook highlights the gap between the country’s political leadership and the needs of its population. While authorities have offered few signs of relief, the economic burden continues to land on civilians, who remain exposed to the combined effects of sanctions, mismanagement and inflation.