Despite declining inflation, food prices remain high and are a major concern for voters

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In the run-up to the November elections, food prices are a major concern for many Americans.

According to a recent Fox News poll, the economy is the most important issue for voters this year, ahead of crime and immigration.

Another survey shows that 78% of Americans are cutting back on spending on basic food items despite declining inflation.

So what's to blame? We consulted an expert to find out.

“In most cases, this is supply-side inflation. That is, prices are rising because you can't get things because of disrupted supply chains,” says Dale Rogers, a supply chain expert at ASU.

He says this is not the kind of inflation that was common in grandmother's time.

Supply and demand have been replaced by problems in the supply chains, there is less competition and companies are making additional profits.

Ask anyone on the street and you'll hear all about food prices: the good, the bad and the ugly.

“I think the food prices are really ridiculous right now. I mean, how can you afford food and feed your family at the same time?” said one shopper.

“Everything is exploding, even the prices of normal things like toothpaste that everyone needs are crazy right now,” said another.

Food prices remain high while inflation falls

Inflation fell to its lowest level in three years in July, but food prices are still 21 percent higher than they were three years ago, according to the Associated Press.

“The cause is some sort of supply chain disruption, but then prices tend to trend upward, like, 'Oh, we can get this (price), let's see how long we can hold it,'” Rogers said.

It may be the higher prices of tomatoes, toothpaste and toilet paper that are driving voters to the polls.

“It's not as bad as it used to be. Maybe a year or two ago when eggs were five or six dollars. So I think it's cooled down a bit, at least from what I see,” said one shopper.

“Everyone is making a profit from something somewhere, so I think there is definitely a profit. I just don't know where,” said another.

According to the Associated Press, beef and chicken prices have risen more than 30 percent since the pandemic began.

Four major companies control 55 to 85 percent of the beef and poultry supply in the United States.