Grand Canyon 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, attributed voters' pessimism towards the direction of the country to economic anxiety. 

"Of the mere 39% of respondents who approved of the President's handling of the economy... among battleground state independents polled, only 9% said they 'strongly approve' of Biden on the economy while 48% registered that they 'strongly disapprove,'" said Cortes.

Cortes noted that grocery prices have soared by 20% nationally in just three years. Several common items like chicken breasts and ground coffee have seen their average prices increase by 30% and 33% respectively.

According to Cortes, these inflationary impacts can be directly linked to Biden administration's spending levels which have increased total federal debt by $6 trillion since taking office.

Arizona's Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema are strong supporters of Biden's agenda according to Five Thirty Eight. It reported that Kelly voted with Biden 95% during the 117th Congress between 2021-2022 while Sinema voted with Biden all times.

"Battleground state voters aren't buying [Bidenomics]," said Jon McHenry, a partner with North Star who conducted this survey.

The overall Consumer Price Index rose by 3.7 percent from Sept. 2022 to Sept. 2023 according to U.S Bureau Of Labor Statistics' most recent report.

In Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area, the Consumer Price Index was up by 3.7 percent in Aug. 2023 over Aug. 2022 as per Bureau of Labor Statistics, though inflation has decreased from its peak of more than nine percent last year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nationwide food index increased by 3.7 percent from Sept. 2022 to Sept. 2023 and cereals and bakery products saw a rise by 4.8 percent over that same time period.

Food prices in Phoenix metro area were up by 4.9 percent in Aug. 2023 over Aug. 2022 according to BLS. The cost of cereals and bakery products saw an increase by 10.9 percent over Aug. 2022.

From Nov. 2022 to Jun. 2023, Arizona had the second-highest restaurant price inflation rate at 23% in the country as per an analysis done by USA TODAY Blueprint.

The USDA's Economic Research Service predicted a rise between 2.1 to 6.7 percent in all food prices in the year of 2024 with an increase between one to seven point eight percent for prices of food at home and a rise between four point four to six point seven percent for prices of food away from home.