Rural residents regardless of political party are more concerned about inflation than their counterparts in metro areas, according to a quarterly survey that has been tracking voter attitudes about the cost of food.
Rural residents are often harder hit by inflation, the researchers say in a report on the Gardner Food and Agricultural Policy Survey.
“Rural consumers often have longer commutes, which increases the impact of transportation costs, and a smaller number of food options can translate to less flexibility as food prices rise,” the report says.
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Some 44.5% of metro Democrats and 31.7% of non-metro Democrats expect inflation to improve by November, compared to 25.1% of metro Republicans and 14.2% of Republicans who live in non-metro areas.
Some 25% of people in metro areas who don’t align with either party expect to see improvement, compared to 18.8% of non-partisan individuals in rural areas.
Food inflation has already abated significantly. The Consumer Price Index for food eaten at home is up just 0.9% over the past 12 months, well under the historical average. USDA’s Economic Research Service projects that the cost of groceries will rise 1.2% this year and 1.1% in 2025. The average annual increase for the past 20 years is 2.7%.
