Regardless of the reason, unless we can get a handle on food and energy prices, (inflation), the

[JohnSJ]

midterms are going to be even more challenging for us then they already were

[BeerBarrelPolka]

1. So much

So much in my parts have gone up. Even my haircut went up (for the second time in a year) last week.

[Scrivener7]

2. I have to wonder what aspect of your haircut is being affected by

supply chain problems.

And then wonder if your haircutter is a bit of a gouger who is taking advantage of the news.

[jimfields33]

4. She has bills to pay so when her personal bills go up, she needs more revenue

To pay household bills. The haircut just go up.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

6. Exactly

Edit: Plus she mentioned that the rent was raised as well.

[Scrivener7]

38. Ok. Sorry. I was being shortsighted.

[JohnSJ]

5. Actually hair cutters had an extremely difficult time during the pandemic, and were one of the

businesses severely impacted by it.

Add to that the increase in energy and food, etc., it really isn’t surprising is it?

[BeerBarrelPolka]

7. I agree

It's been a rough time for many people.

[JohnSJ]

8. Yes it has

[BeerBarrelPolka]

10. I lost

I lost my business. Not sure if it'll ever come back. I was a trainer/coach. During the pandemic, many people simply found other things to occupy their time and my sort of stuff was found not to be a necessity.

[JohnSJ]

13. Wow. That is awful. I hope things get better for you

[BeerBarrelPolka]

15. Thanks

Thanks John. I have one last stab at it. I am filming what will probably be my last instructional video series next month. Let's see if the producers can market me to a new audience. I'm getting very long in the tooth for this stuff (57 years old), so it'll be a longshot.

[GPV]

42. If you want a second career, school subs are in short supply. I got

pulled from my sped job to cover gym for the 3rd time this week.

[FBaggins]

20. The supply chain isn't the only factor influencing price inflation

Alternate reading - labor is part of the supply chain.

[ShazamIam]

40. The fed minimum wage is still $7.25/hr. And just because a few employers have increased

their workers pay doesn't mean it has affected anything like a majority of low wage workers.

These salary and wage increase do not approach the inflation rate caused by price gouging.

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/eci.nr0.htm

[Demsrule86]

29. This is corporate inflation...there are no shortages except those created by the business to up

their profits...I have not seen huge price increases here in Ohio. I still pay between 1.69 and 1.99 for chicken breast...boneless and skinless...I buy thighs and legs at 59 cents a pound up to 99 cents for the organic ones. Meat isn't bad. I got a prime beef roast on clearance yesterday at Giant Eagle. I buy pork mostly when it goes on sale ...anywhere under 2.00 a pound. I buy flash-frozen fish (not much fresh fish in Ohio). I often get bone-in chops very cheaply. I cook most things from scratch. Thus, maybe some things went up that I am unaware of (convenience food).

But day-to-day, I don't see a difference. My bread is always pricey unless I make it myself as I can't eat gluten... This has been pretty constant too. I have not seen big increases...gas is up. I paid 3.05 at Sam's when I filled up. But I think that is gouging pure and simple. I use in-season vegetables with the exception of green beans, yellow squash, and zucchini...they are cheap at Aldi's. I also use frozen vegetables. I buy in-season fresh fruit and some canned in the winter.

[Blues Heron]

3. I think most people know what's at stake regardless of the price of groceries

They know its not Biden's fault or the Democrats in general that is raising prices. This seems like an outdated take on things post Trump. It's not the 1970s anymore. Thanks for your concern though.

[JohnSJ]

12. It sure impacted Carter and Ford's re-election attempts. You can snark all you want, but this is a

forum for discussing things, and comments like “thank you for your concern” add very little to a useful discussion, except to imply that other views on DU that don’t align with yours iare irrelevant

[Blues Heron]

14. Its a tired outdated argument

like I said, the post Trump, and post Covid world is definitely not analogous to the 1970s. Thanks though.

[JohnSJ]

21. It isn't an argument, it is what people see when they fill there car up at the pump, and go to

the grocery stores.

The consumer doesn’t care what caused the problem, they want it fixed.

As for your view that it is outdated, it is making headlines everyday, and both President Biden and Vice President Harris have been publicly acknowledging that this is a major problem that cannot be ignored.

After Biden’s call with Xi, China has released some oil from reserves hoping this will stabilize prices. OPEC made it clear they have no intention of helping. Schumer is asking the President to release our petroleum reserves in hopes this will stabilize things. Biden has asked the FTC to examine if oil companies are price fixing.

This isn’t an outdated argument, and the administration has made it very clear they have real concerns about it

[FBaggins]

22. Ignorance of history - doomed to repeat it

“But it’s different this time!” Is part of that history.

[Drunken Irishman]

31. I'm assuming you haven't turned on a TV or read a newspaper in over a year.

Good for you on that but I would recommend before commenting on what the American people believe or who they'll blame that you take a second and look at how much has shifted politically for Biden and the Democrats since summer.

For starters, Biden's approval is worse today than Trump's was for a good chunk of his final year in office. Worse, as there's less time for a rebound, Democrats are losing h2h vs the Republicans, in some instances by 10+ points, when asked about midterms.

Yes, you can say you don't trust polls, which I'm sure you will, but at least it's a tangible number that suggests things are bad - unlike what you've presented as all I see is opinion backed by nothing.

Quinnipiac released a poll today that had Biden at 36% approval. Believe it - don't but those are horrific numbers for a first-year president.

[Demsrule86]

32. You are incorrect. Look at the polls which reflect this. People still vote their pocket book.

We have a tough road in the primaries. I hope all Democrats turn out...if we have any message voting or I didn't get this or that attitudes among our flock, we will lose badly. But, I do believe we can win the midterms if we stick together.

[Kahuna]

9. 100%. Inflation is killing us. nt

[BeerBarrelPolka]

11. Yesterday

Yesterday was the first time in a LONG time that I was able to get out of the house (I am a 24/7 caregiver for my mother). I stopped for a beer. Price went up .$50 a bottle for domestic.

[JohnSJ]

17. Here In California we are approaching 5 dollars a gallon. Average is about 4.50/gallon,

and higher energy costs affect the prices of everything

[BeerBarrelPolka]

18. That's

That's about what the city of Chicago prices are. Of course the city adds a bunch of tax. I live for the last 7.5 years, about 1.5 hours out of the city. Gas here is $3.50 for regular, but it seems to fluctuate almost daily.

[JohnSJ]

24. We add a lot of tax too, but it has risen at least a buck. Unlike the 70's where OPEC caused an

artificial shortage and gas lines, there are no gas lines, which tells me the supply is more than adequate.

[BeerBarrelPolka]

26. Thanks

Thanks for the discourse.

I'd like to add this, as it will be directly affecting me shortly. The price of rents has gone astronomical here in Illinois and I would bet other places as well. I just cannot fathom what has happened. And with landlords requiring people to have 3-3.5x monthly income to rent ratio, it's frightening. The vast majority of jobs around here pay $15/hour or less. The math simply doesn't work out when the rents they are asking are $1500 and above. You have to have roommates or combined incomes somehow.

[JohnSJ]

27. I am afraid your assessment is right regarding rents in most places. In some places in California

we have rent control, but that is of limited value in an already high rent market. Yes, you need at least two working people to afford rent.

I know the Biden administration is aware of these problems because they have acknowledged it, I hope something can be done

[BeerBarrelPolka]

30. .

I hope something can be done as well. I just read today that in Chicago, affordable apartments via CHA (Chicago Housing Authority) has around a 25 year waiting list.

[JCMach1]

33. Lease renewals will come with sticker shock everywhere

Becoming absolutely unaffordable in DFW

[BeerBarrelPolka]

34. I'm

I'm sad to read this. I will be forced to move in the spring and am going nuts trying to figure out how I can do it. As of now, my only hope is to rent a room from strangers and put my stuff in storage until things can change.

[JCMach1]

36. My lease is up in June. Looking into buying

It may be our only option.

That also is a horrific option at moment in this market.

Even worse, schools are still a major consideration for us .

[BeerBarrelPolka]

37. Good Luck

I'm not married and don't have a kids situation. I'm just me.

[doc03]

16. CNN really did a good report this morning the economy is booming other than

the inflation. Un-employment down, jobs up, wages up, corporate profits up, Wall Street up,
you IRA and 401K are up. Finally the media reports the positive things.

[JohnSJ]

25. Yes. Also what I have observed is no gas lines, which means there is adequate supply I would assume

[lindalou65]

19. Inflation but a strong economy

Biden has no control over gas prices, etc and a Repub president would not either-----the Republicans can't fix it either and in fact will only make it worse in my opinion. People seem to have short memories..

[JohnSJ]

23. You are mostly right. Biden in talks with Xi was able to get China to release some of their

oil reserves, and Schumer is asking Biden to release our petroleum reserves to try to stabilize the price. Biden has also asked the FTC to determine if price fixing among oil companies is going on.

There are a few other things he can do, so they are working on it.

[House of Roberts]

28. The strategic oil reserve isn't going to make refiners

produce more oil, if it would benefit a Democrat to retain power.

People are mostly back to work, so the demand is there for vehicle fuel. That's what is making the price of fuel go up, and the price of fuel adds to all costs of things that are transported.

[lindalou65]

43. that's good news

Thanks for that---I was unaware of these recent developments.

[JCMach1]

35. It's a market, there is really no handle to get ... Price is driven by supply

Which was extremely high during the peak of pandemic. Last my May or so us began eating into excess stock of gasoline and oil reserves.

That will likely start levelling out from January from the reports I have read.

People have very short memories in this country. Release from the national reserve from driving season 2022 if prices spike again by June/July 2022.

And damn, we need to be discouraging gas guzzlers and incentivizing electrics. This shite happens every damn time.

When gas is low, people buy guzzlers.

[Drunken Irishman]

39. I think if gas prices drop, it'll help a lot.

Inflation is an issue but gas prices are easily the one that grabs the attention of Americans the most.

If gas prices go down, even if inflation is still higher, I think it would be a world of difference politically.

[treestar]

41. We need to quit rolling over and giving in to this

and educate people. Stay on message. There's no excuse for being ignorant. The Republicans are going to make it better? That's just stupid. People need to quit being emotional. We need to encourage them not to be, rather than just rolling over.

Further, what is happing now won't matter if things are different in Oct. 2022. That's part of the stupidity too. But quit the rolling over and giving up on 2022. We did not do that in 2016 - we started right up for 2018 and succeeded.

[Devil Child]

44. Having a robust educated understanding of why inflation is occuring

Does little to help our household when each week we spend more to get less.

To those needing to "acktchually" others about real inflation-driven pain I say kindly fuck off unless you can kick in for our fixed income grocery needs.