Amanda Aronchik

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Okay. Amanda, what a pleasure. Wait just a second.

Okay. Amanda, what a pleasure. Wait just a second.

Okay. Amanda, what a pleasure. Wait just a second.

No, no. I introduce you. You're coming to my show, dude. Oh, dang it. Okay. So I want to let you know we have another question from a listener. This one is from Jen Penzis. So here's a question.

No, no. I introduce you. You're coming to my show, dude. Oh, dang it. Okay. So I want to let you know we have another question from a listener. This one is from Jen Penzis. So here's a question.

No, no. I introduce you. You're coming to my show, dude. Oh, dang it. Okay. So I want to let you know we have another question from a listener. This one is from Jen Penzis. So here's a question.

OK, so we looked this up and between 2019 and 2023, grocery prices did increase by 25 percent, as Jen said. And broadly, overall inflation was less. It increased by nearly 18 percent. Now, of course, inflation was a huge issue in this past election. And Trump has promised to bring down the cost of groceries. Right. So Greg Roselski, our newsletter writer, a little bit about Jen.

OK, so we looked this up and between 2019 and 2023, grocery prices did increase by 25 percent, as Jen said. And broadly, overall inflation was less. It increased by nearly 18 percent. Now, of course, inflation was a huge issue in this past election. And Trump has promised to bring down the cost of groceries. Right. So Greg Roselski, our newsletter writer, a little bit about Jen.

OK, so we looked this up and between 2019 and 2023, grocery prices did increase by 25 percent, as Jen said. And broadly, overall inflation was less. It increased by nearly 18 percent. Now, of course, inflation was a huge issue in this past election. And Trump has promised to bring down the cost of groceries. Right. So Greg Roselski, our newsletter writer, a little bit about Jen.

Jen watches grocery prices closely. She even made a spreadsheet where she tracked how much she was spending on things like eggs and ground turkey and milk, I think. Love spreadsheets. Love a spreadsheet. So what do you think is the answer to her question? Why are groceries still so expensive, even though inflation overall has slowed?

Jen watches grocery prices closely. She even made a spreadsheet where she tracked how much she was spending on things like eggs and ground turkey and milk, I think. Love spreadsheets. Love a spreadsheet. So what do you think is the answer to her question? Why are groceries still so expensive, even though inflation overall has slowed?

Jen watches grocery prices closely. She even made a spreadsheet where she tracked how much she was spending on things like eggs and ground turkey and milk, I think. Love spreadsheets. Love a spreadsheet. So what do you think is the answer to her question? Why are groceries still so expensive, even though inflation overall has slowed?

So first of all, I got to say, Jen, I feel you. Grocery prices do seem really high. But, you know, to answer this question, the first thing I want to do is just sort of like sort out this difference between the price level and inflation. So to clarify, the price level is like, you know, the general or average level of prices of goods and services in the economy. Inflation is different, though.

So first of all, I got to say, Jen, I feel you. Grocery prices do seem really high. But, you know, to answer this question, the first thing I want to do is just sort of like sort out this difference between the price level and inflation. So to clarify, the price level is like, you know, the general or average level of prices of goods and services in the economy. Inflation is different, though.

So first of all, I got to say, Jen, I feel you. Grocery prices do seem really high. But, you know, to answer this question, the first thing I want to do is just sort of like sort out this difference between the price level and inflation. So to clarify, the price level is like, you know, the general or average level of prices of goods and services in the economy. Inflation is different, though.

It's an increase in the price level. It's the change, not the level. So how about this? So think of an inflatable pool. An inflatable swimming pool, like one of those kiddie pools? Maybe a big one so I could get in and swim around. Okay. The height of the water is kind of like the price level. And now imagine there's a hose going into this pool. Okay, we're filling up the inflatable pool here.

It's an increase in the price level. It's the change, not the level. So how about this? So think of an inflatable pool. An inflatable swimming pool, like one of those kiddie pools? Maybe a big one so I could get in and swim around. Okay. The height of the water is kind of like the price level. And now imagine there's a hose going into this pool. Okay, we're filling up the inflatable pool here.

It's an increase in the price level. It's the change, not the level. So how about this? So think of an inflatable pool. An inflatable swimming pool, like one of those kiddie pools? Maybe a big one so I could get in and swim around. Okay. The height of the water is kind of like the price level. And now imagine there's a hose going into this pool. Okay, we're filling up the inflatable pool here.