Americans Refusing to Pay Higher Prices May Be Helping Avoid Inflation

Looks like consumers have more of an impact on the economy than the government does. When everyone keeps paying for things no matter how much the prices go up, that encourages raising prices further.

“Some of America’s largest companies, from Amazon to Disney to Yum Brands, say their customers are increasingly seeking cheaper alternative products and services, searching for bargains or just avoiding items they deem too expensive. Consumers aren’t cutting back enough to cause an economic downturn. Rather, economists say, they appear to be returning to pre-pandemic norms, when most companies felt they couldn’t raise prices very much without losing business.”

Source: https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumers-economy-spending-federal-reserve-c69408f05baeffac0023ceb76b747999

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Barcelona Ends Short-Term Rentals

When housing becomes less available in a tourism-driven city, decisions have to be made. Short-term rentals (like Airbnb) are harder to justify when local housing is scarce or increasingly expensive. And hotels are still available.

Barcelona, Spain, is dealing with this situation. “Barcelona City Hall announced last month that it would not renew any tourist apartment licenses after they expire in 2028. Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet said the city wants tourism, which accounts for 15% of the local economy, but must help residents cope with skyrocketing rents and real estate prices.”

Source: https://apnews.com/article/barcelona-spain-tourist-apartments-154cf293078aa14c299e3539d90e9350

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Biden-Harris Record

For the record, the Biden-Harris administration has added 16 million jobs, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs, overseen the lowest unemployment rate in half a century, presided over the strongest economy on Earth, and brought the murder rate down 25%!

Legislatively, the comparison between Harris and Trump cannot be greater. Trump’s only legislative accomplishment was a tax cut for millionaires and billionaires. That’s it. Biden and Harris’s legislative accomplishments include the American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act, the PACT Act (expanding health care and benefits for veterans), the CHIPS Act, the Infrastructure Law, the Gun Safety Law, reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (which Trump allowed to lapse), codifying marriage equality into federal law. They have also prohibited junk fees at banks, capped insulin and inhalers at $35, and ensured that airlines automatically reimburse passengers for canceled flights. All of these help regular Americans, not just the wealthy.

Sources are linked below, using Wikipedia rather than government websites to help ensure objectivity.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Rescue_Plan_Act_of_2021

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_Reduction_Act

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honoring_our_PACT_Act_of_2022

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHIPS_and_Science_Act

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrastructure_Investment_and_Jobs_Act

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisan_Safer_Communities_Act

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_Against_Women_Act#Reauthorizations

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_Marriage_Act

Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/916

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Business/trumps-economic-legacy/story?id=74760051

Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/secret-irs-files-reveal-how-much-the-ultrawealthy-gained-by-shaping-trumps-big-beautiful-tax-cut

Source: https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/the-2017-trump-tax-law-was-skewed-to-the-rich-expensive-and-failed-to-deliver

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