What’s driving inflation? Bucknell prof says maybe not what you think

• Scott LaMar/WITF
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar was formerly the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

The inflation graph arrow is out of control. The officers are trying to bridle it. (Used clipping mask)

Airdate: July 5th, 2023

 

The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, was at 4% in May, the lowest rate of inflation since March of 2021, when prices started to rise. By comparison, the inflation rate was 8.6% in May, 2022.

Even though prices are stabilizing, they’re still higher than two years ago.

Other key sectors of the economy like unemployment is are doing well but consumers often judge the economy’s health on prices they’re paying and as a result, most polls show American consumers aren’t optimistic.

Two years later, there’s still disagreement on what caused the rising prices in the first place.

Bucknell University Professor of Economics Matias Vernengo on The Spark Wednesday blames the rearrangement of supply chains for inflating prices — something he says that started well before the pandemic in the U.S. but intensified by COVID restrictions in China.