REPORTAGE. American presidential election: inflation invites itself into the campaign

Among the themes of the American presidential campaign are the end of the war in Gaza, immigration, but also the economic situation of the country.

America will know its next president in just two months, during the presidential election on November 5, which will decide between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. He denounces Joe Biden’s catastrophic economic record. The White House, for its part, highlights an unemployment rate at its lowest in decades and contained inflation after the surge in prices that began in 2021. What does the American consumer say about this?

As she leaves a supermarket in Maryland, near Washington, Carol shows her paper bags: “Onions, cream, chocolate bars and beans, she lists. Lemons were 39 cents, now they’re 49. It’s all a little more expensive now, but it’s OK.” Cathy has also just paid the bill. The young nutritionist regrets a price increase that has penalized the middle class since the Covid pandemic. “I would love to buy organic products, but I can’t afford to do so every week.”

“In some stores I look for promotions, what is cheapest. I rarely buy at full price.”

Krys admits that he doesn’t need to watch the labels, and says he feels privileged. Even though he is well aware that prices have jumped in recent years.“I haven’t done the math, but it’s probably 25% more, maybe 20% more between now and four years ago. I think it’s an inflation problem for the whole world.”

“Everything is more expensive: doctors, medicines, petrol, rent,” regrets Rosanne, soon to be 89 years old. However, she does not think that Joe Biden is the only one responsible. “I’m not necessarily going to blame the President of the United States for the price of my groceries! And I’d rather vote for Mickey than Donald Trump.”

Donald Trump, who, according to Kamala Harris, is not fighting for the wallets of Americans, but for billionaires and big business. The former president, for his part, calls the Democratic candidate a “Communist”.