Peach Tree Times

A recent battleground state poll released by the League of American Workers showed that economic issues were the top concern of voters in the states polled, which included Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Sixty percent of respondents cited rising food prices as one of their top two most important impacts from inflation. Notably, the poll also found that 77% of respondents believe the country is on the wrong track and 57% disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy.

Steve Cortes, chairman and founder of the League of American Workers, noted in a column at American Greatness that voter pessimism about the country's direction can be attributed to economic anxiety. "A mere 39% of respondents approved of the president's handling of the economy," said Cortes. Among battleground state independents polled, only 9% said they "strongly approve" of Biden on the economy, while 48% registered that they "strongly disapprove."

Cortes further noted that nationally, grocery prices have soared by 20% in just three years. Chicken breasts and ground coffee have seen their average prices increase by 30% and 33%, respectively.

Cortes argues that these inflationary impacts can be directly linked to increased spending levels under President Biden's administration. The total federal debt has risen by $6 trillion since Biden took office.

According to Five Thirty Eight, Georgia's Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock strongly support Biden's agenda. Ossoff voted with Biden 97% of the time during Congress from 2021-2022 while Warnock voted with him 96.8% of time.

"Battleground state voters aren't buying 'Bidenomics'," said Jon McHenry, a partner with North Star who conducted this survey for Peach Tree Times.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Consumer Price Index report indicates that the overall CPI rose 3.7 percent from Sept. 2022 to Sept. 2023.

According to an Oct. WalletHub analysis, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro area has the fifth highest inflation of 23 major Metropolitan Statistical Areas analyzed by BLS. Inflation in this area was up 4.9 percent over the previous year based on the most recent data.

Per BLS, the nationwide food index increased 3.7 percent from Sept. 2022 to Sept. 2023. Cereals and bakery products were up by 4.8 percent during that period.

The BLS also reports that in Aug. 2023, food prices in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell area were up by 5.2 percent compared to Aug. 2022 with cereals and bakery products costing 5.1 percent more than the previous year.

From Nov. 2022 to Jun. 2023, Georgians experienced a sharp increase of restaurant price inflation rate by up to 20%, according to an analysis by USA TODAY Blueprint.

Lastly, the USDA's Economic Research Service predicts an increase of all food prices by between 2.1% and up to6 .7% in upcoming years while prices for at-home food are predicted to rise between1 .0% and upto7 .8%. Similarly, prices for away-from-home foods could see an increase between4 .4% and upto6 .7%.