Freelance Life

WASHINGTON. THREE WEEKS FROM ELECTION DAY AND THE COST OF LIVING ON THE COST OF LIVING IS ON THE MINDS OF VOTERS AND CAMPAIGNS. JULIAN POTTER IS LOOKING AT HOW THOSE WALLET ISSUES MAY AFFECT THE OUTCOME. THATS RIGHT. THE LATEST REPORTS SHOW THAT INFLATION IS BELOW 3%, BUT CONSUMERS SAY THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING IS STILL HURTING THEM. WHAT YOU CAN SHOW ME WITH NUMBERS, IT DOESNT SEEM TO MATCH WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING IN REAL LIFE. JENNIFER RHODEN, ECHOING THE MESSAGE OF MANY CONSUMERS EVERYDAY NECESSITIES ARE STILL TOO EXPENSIVE. I USED TO BE ABLE TO FILL UP MY CAR TANK WITH GAS WITHOUT IT HURTING MY POCKETS SO MUCH, AND NOW THATS NOT REALLY THE CASE. BUT ITS NOT JUST GAS. A REPORT FROM THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE SHOWS NEW MEXICO HOUSEHOLDS ARE SPENDING MORE ON FOOD, ENERGY AND HOUSING THAN THEY WERE IN JANUARY OF 2021. PEOPLES MEMORIES ARE AN INTERPRETATION OF THAT PRICE GROWTH, OF THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT THE ECONOMY WILL HAVE AN EFFECT ON WHAT PARTY OR WHAT PERSON THAT THEY VOTE ON IN THIS ELECTION THIS YEAR. U-N-M ECONOMIST RILEY WHITE SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THREE DECADES HE BELIEVES INFLATION WILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE WHEN PEOPLE VOTE IN NOVEMBER, ELECTED OFFICIALS, CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL EXPERTS AGREE NEW MEXICANS ARE FEELING THE BURDEN. MANY NEW MEXICAN VOTERS LIVE CHECK TO CHECK. SO WITH HIGH PRICES, OFTENTIMES NEW MEXICANS HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES OR EVEN SACRIFICES AS TO WHAT THEY PURCHASE. THE AVERAGE NEW MEXICANS COST OF LIVING MAY HAVE GONE UP AS MUCH AS 10 OR $11,000 PER YEAR, WHILE THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS ALSO REPORTS THAT INFLATION HAS DECREASED TO 2.4%, THE LOWEST SINCE 2021. THAT DOESNT MAKE THINGS CHEAPER. THATS CLOSE TO OUR HISTORICAL AVERAGES, BUT ITS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THE PAIN, JUST BECAUSE INFLATION HAS COME DOWN, IS STILL THERE FOR NEW MEXICO FAMILIES. CONSUMERS DEMANDING MORE ACTION TO HELP AMERICANS LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK INFINITELY. THATS MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEYRE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH IT. HERE WE GO. NOW, ECONOMIC EXPERTS ALSO SAY THINGS LIKE AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE HAVE INCREASED IN PRICE AS A RESULT OF INFLATION.