Whitmer pushes back on dissatisfaction on economy

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, President Joe Biden’s top surrogate in the state, says she’s aware that the cost of food and other items “hurt” Michiganders, but says Democratic policies and legislative scores are working to lessen the impact.

“We know that commodities are not have not gone down the way that I think most of us would have hoped,” Whitmer tells 6 News.  “We have seen inflation start to come down. We’ve seen our workforce participation at historic highs. So, people are at work. They’re actual take-home, pay has gone up even faster than inflation has gone up and so we’re we are a little bit ahead, but that doesn’t make anyone feel better when you see that grocery bill, I hear what you’re saying.”

Whitmer made the remarks during an interview to encourage voting in the Feb. 27 Presidential primary in Michigan.

While the numbers show the economy is recovering from the pandemic – A Gallup poll released last month found only 35% of U.S adults say it is easier to buy things at stores than it was three years ago. 59% say it is not easier.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service published the 2024 Food Price Outlook in January. The agency predicts the cost of groceries is expected to decrease slightly during 2024, while food away from home is expected to increase by 4.7%.

Other economic data points show an economy in the rebound, including unemployment rates.

“Michigan’s 2023 labor market demonstrated marked improvement over the year, reaching an annual jobless rate slightly below the 2019 pre-pandemic rate,” said Wayne Rourke, labor market information director for Michigan’s Center for Data and Analytics. “Annual payroll employment also advanced since 2022.”

While the numbers show the economy is recovering from the pandemic – A Gallup poll released last month found only 35% of U.S adults say it is easier to buy things at stores than it was three years ago. 59% say it is not easier.

Whitmer said people are busy and may not have the time to research what is happening with the economy.

“You’re working,” she says. “You’re trying to take care of all the things that life is throwing at you, and sometimes  — even if you’re really as engaged as you are in terms of being up on the news — don’t have time to consume everything. So, that’s our job is to tell people what has happened.” She touted efforts by Michigan Democrats to reduce taxes for families in the state as well economic development actions – such as the investment of GM and other manufacturers in the state building new state-of-the-art factories – as evidence Michigan, and the nation, are heading in the right direction economically

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