A.F. Branco: Thanks-grieving
As we head into a big election year voters will be asking themselves, which party would be a better bet for me personally? Which president will make my life a little easier, a little better, a little happier, a little less scared? Who would I be thankful for?
President’s do not single-handedly improve economies, but they can have an impact. And what Branco’s Thanksgiving cornucopia shows us here is that we were way more thankful back in 2019 before “that” election and its odd ballot-counting shutdowns in the middle of the night. There were no new wars, we had a border arrangement with Mexico controlling illegal immigration, a booming economy, a sensible energy policy, the list goes on. But the left’s visceral hatred of Trump led to the elevation of one of the most useless senators in that chamber. A man with no firm convictions and a knack for making himself very, very wealthy.
But that’s all subjective, how about we look at some facts.
Let’s look at some official data:
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) a dollar today only buys 83.333% of what it could buy back in 2019.
The BLS records prices for admission to movies, theaters, and concerts are 16.74% higher in 2023 versus 2019 (a $3.35 difference in value).
Between 2019 and 2023: Alcohol experienced an average inflation rate of 3.06% per year. In other words, alcohol costing $10 in the year 2019 would cost $11.28 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase.
Domestically produced farm food experienced an average inflation rate of 5.86% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, domestically produced farm food costing $20 in the year 2019 would cost $25.12 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.45% during this same period, inflation for domestically produced farm food was higher.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all food are 24.85% higher in 2023 versus 2019 (a $4.97 difference in value).
Gas costing $3.78 in the year 2019 would cost $5.15 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase.
Heating your home this Thanksgiving? Prices for fuel oil are 41.38% higher in 2023 versus 2019 (a $1.69 difference in value). The current national average price is $4.09 for “Fuel oil #2 per gallon (3.785 liters)”. This data is collected by a national survey and can vary from region to region. So, between 2019 and 2023: Fuel oil experienced an average inflation rate of 9.04% per year.
A quick reminder of what it looked like back then from an admittedly biased source!
NEW: Joe Rogan says the United States was “without a doubt” better off under Donald Trump, says he sees nuclear war as a possibility for the first time in his life.
Americans are finally waking up but unfortunately it took global war for people to figure it out.
“Right now I’m… pic.twitter.com/eD9LhtvIWU
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 27, 2023
Everyone knows it. Greatest economy i history. pic.twitter.com/aRQoPFxTX9
— Rapidsloth (@Rapidsloth_) October 27, 2023
And with that, may we wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving. May next year bring us relief from the troubles and strife we are experiencing now.