In Wisconsin, solidarity grocery stores have become essential with inflation

It is one of the states that could swing in favor of Donald Trump. In Wisconsin, measures on purchasing power are expected, particularly during the first debate of the campaign, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

Dozens of people wait outside the Goodmann Community Center food store in Madison, Wisconsin’s state capital. The prices at the supermarket have become too high. “When I started, four years ago, if we had 60 people a day, that was a lot. A few days ago, we had 114. So yes, it has increased a lot.”notes Carol, a volunteer. Purchasing power is one of the themes of the American presidential campaign, which is experiencing one of its key moments with the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, on the night of Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 11 September.

This increase in the number of beneficiaries is due to inflation: +25% on food products in four years. Salaries are not keeping up, confirms Francesca Frisquethe manager of this solidarity grocery store. “A significant portion of the population lives on fixed incomes. Some have disability pensions, others are retired and this does not keep up with inflation. There are also many people who rent and the rental prices have increased terribly. Just to be able to pay their bills. They are forced to come here.”

“My income is the disability pension,” Tom says, his white hair in a ponytail. He comes here every week. “With all the people moving here to Madison, house prices are going up a lot, that’s my biggest expense.”

“Home insurance has doubled in the last year, so I don’t go to the supermarket anymore, only if there’s something I really need.”

Tom, a beneficiary of the solidarity grocery store

to franceinfo

This inflation also affects wealthier families. In the parking lot of Woodmann’sgrocery store, Irin puts her groceries in her pick-up. “Wait, I’ll look at my receipt, just for snacks: $90.” So she already has her opinion on the candidates’ positions regarding the decline in purchasing power. “Trump complains a lot about it, but he has no plan to improve the situation. Kamala, she puts forward ideas. You know, we also have to look at the companies that practice abusive prices.”

Controlling prices is one of the Democrats’ avenues, as well as increasing aid to families. Donald Trump, for his part, continues to accuse Joe Biden of having encouraged inflation with his measures to support the economy during the Covid pandemic.