Category: America’s Heartland

Tell me again why we’re better off now?

Fanatics on the left keep telling us how good things are today vs four years ago. Oh really? Let’s take a look.

Overall, food prices have risen about 22.8% in the last four years, based on a FOX Business analysis. That figure is roughly in line with the rise in meat prices in that time span, which are up nearly 22.6% since 2020.

Egg prices have skyrocketed more than 60.7% since August 2020 — due in part to an outbreak of avian influenza that impacted production in 2022, as well as rising costs for feed, energy and labor.

Other food categories have seen more modest price growth in the last four years, as dairy products are up 16% while fruits and vegetables are up about 13.8%.

Shelter prices have increased nearly 23.4% since August 2020, with rents for primary residences up by a similar amoun

Overall energy costs have increased about 42.4% over the past four years, with fuel oil spiking 70.3%.

New vehicles are up 19.5%, while prices for used cars and trucks have risen over 17.9% since August 2020. Auto insurance prices have surged by nearly 52.4% since that time.

Gas prices have risen by more than 50% in the last four years. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via / Getty Images)

Health care costs have increased at a slower rate than other categories, as prices for medical care services are up about 7.4% since August 2020, although prices for hospital services are up more than 17.8%.

Prices for education and communication services — a category that includes tuition and fees for various levels of schooling as well as internet, telephone and postage services — are up about 7.9% compared with four years ago.

Airline fares have risen nearly 21.7% since August 2020.