Yes, the whole thing seems transparently dystopic.
Set aside the notion of "rich". Perhaps in a few decades it will be impossible to ever "get ahead" because with each dollar you earn, cumulatively all of your vendors will find a way to charge you another $0.99.
No. Every single thing (excluding occasional inelasticities) is at equilibrium between upward pressure on price (vendor objective) and downward pressure on price (consumer objective).
Set aside the notion of "rich". Perhaps in a few decades it will be impossible to ever "get ahead" because with each dollar you earn, cumulatively all of your vendors will find a way to charge you another $0.99.