[Economics] Inflation: Why food prices matter for the US midterm elections

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The cost of food in the US is rising at the fastest pace since the 1970s, with grocery prices up 13.5% in the 12 months to September.

As elections approach in November and wages fail to keep pace, shoppers are feeling the pain. So when will it get easier - and will high prices shape how people vote?

Why are prices so high right now?
A carton of eggs in the US costs more than $3 today, more than twice what it was at the start of 2021, when US President Joe Biden took office. Beef and chicken prices have surged almost 20%, and a bunch of bananas runs 10% higher.

"It's very hard," says 78-year-old Edda Charbon. The New Yorker says she often finds herself returning items to the shelves that she used to buy, shocked by how much they cost. "Even to fry eggs - a little thing like that may cost a lot."

The price spikes started during the pandemic, when dining out plunged, demand for groceries surged and Covid outbreaks led to production issues.

Companies passed on higher costs they were facing, like higher wages and more expensive fuel.

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