Valdosta businesses thrive as state inflation rates slowly decline

• Georgia's consumer price index fell 0.4% last month, easing inflation pressures.
• The average price of gasoline in the region is $3.14 per gallon.
• Watch the video to see how our neighbors have recovered since inflation.

TRANSCRIPT

If you live in Valdosta, you may know Rayshanna Byron, owner of Blooming Body Contour.

“I specialize in helping women regain their confidence through weight loss and weight gain supplements.”

It opened in 2021, in the middle of the COVID period.

Unstable consumer spending and product price fluctuations forced the company to restructure its business, but today it is in a great position to focus more on its product line.

“I've now both lost and gained weight. Whatever your physical goal is, I can help you achieve it. I have fat burning supplements, detoxifiers, appetite suppressants, appetite stimulants, things like that.”

And she is not the only one who is feeling better.

The consumer price index fell by 0.4 percent compared to the previous month, with the main categories of food and transport recording the decline.

Think about it: At the same time last year, gas in our area cost $3.22, last month it was $3.32, and today? The average is $3.14.

Cheaper produce and delivery means more disposable income, which, Justin Stephens, owner of Berta's Pizza Kitchen, tells me, means more activity for our local businesses.

“We had a tough time after COVID and the love our community showed us really showed us that we were in the right place.”

And since things are looking up, Rayshanna tells me that she …

“… there are many things in the store that I'm looking forward to… A new location is coming soon.”

Valdosta ended July with 56,700 jobs, a slight increase from the previous year. I'm Malia Thomas from Valdosta, reporting for ABC27.