00:00And across the United States, the soaring cost of living is defining the political climate ahead of the midterm elections.
00:05Despite being the world's wealthiest economy, rising prices for food and housing,
00:11coupled with severe cuts to federal food assistance,
00:14have left millions of working families unable to cover basic needs.
00:18For a report on the deepening affordability crisis, we join Dan Albright.
00:24Good morning.
00:26Cost of living is the phrase of the election season.
00:30And indeed, recent national polling shows the economy and high prices ranking as the number one issue influencing voters this
00:38year.
00:38And the pressure is real.
00:40Since 2021, grocery prices have risen about 22 percent,
00:44while the cost of housing, including rents, has climbed roughly 28 percent.
00:48More than 34 million people officially live in poverty in the U.S.,
00:53while a record roughly 750,000 are homeless.
00:57Millions more survive just above the poverty line,
01:00often working while struggling to cover rent, food, health care, and transportation.
01:06At the same time, government assistance is shrinking.
01:10More than 2.4 million people are expected to lose SNAP food benefits
01:15in a typical month under last year's budget law, with millions more receiving less.
01:20And the safety net varies sharply by state.
01:23Here in Massachusetts, a family of three can receive up to about $860 a month in cash assistance,
01:30while in Arkansas, for example, the maximum is just $204.
01:35So in the world's wealthiest economy, the cost of living crisis increasingly means
01:40having a job or income doesn't guarantee being able to afford the basics.
01:46Dan Albright, Telesur, Boston.
01:48Back to you.
