Political Rewind: Inflation at the ballot box and ballot questions explained

Caption

Costs of everyday needs remain high in Georgia. Our special panel analyzes how inflation will affect the midterms.

Credit: File photo

The panel

Caroline Fohlin, @CarolineFohlin, professor of economics, Emory University

Jim Galloway, @JimJournalist, former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Michael Kanell, @MichaelKanell, business & economics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Stephen Fowler, @stphnfwlr, political reporter, GPB News

The breakdown

1. Atlanta's unemployment rate continues to fall, but Georgians' wallets still feel light.

• Atlanta employers added 6,600 jobs in the last month and the GDP grew 2.6% in the last quarter. So why is everything still so expensive?
• This election cycle has seen several messages on who's at fault for statewide inflation, be it President Biden or Governor Kemp. NPR's Camila Domonoske says you can't blame or thank the president for gas prices.

2. Why are Georgians paying more for the same items at the grocery store?

• Corporate profits have risen over the rate of inflation in certain industries. With fewer competitive markets and higher demand coming out of the pandemic, prices remain high.
• The Warnock campaign has touted his work on reducing the cost of insulin as part of his economic messaging.
• Mike Kanell says demand for things like groceries never really change, so grocers can charge what they want for high-demand items.

3. Why does the Fed keep raising interest rates?

• As workers gain an economic upper-hand with lower unemployment and higher wages, companies raise prices.
• The Federal Reserve raises interest rates in order to keep prices lower by affecting the working class in an attempt to hinder inflation.

4. Looking over the four initiatives on Georgians' ballots.

• GPB has an explainer on all four questions here. 

Monday on Political Rewind: The AJC's Patricia Murphy joins the panel.