The war in Ukraine continues with all its violence, especially in the east of the country. The news about the loss of life, the loss of life, the displaced families from Ukraine continues to come in the third month of the occupation.
While these are happening in one part of the world, in another part of the world, there is an effort to return to normal with the reduction of the effect of the epidemic.
This normality includes going on vacation again as in the pre-pandemic period.
But the conditions are different from the pre-pandemic period.
As in the rest of the world, inflation is at the highest level of the last 40 years with 8.5 percent in the United States.
The increase in prices along with inflation negatively affects holiday plans these days, as the summer season is approaching. According to one survey, 69 percent of Americans say they will go on vacation but change their plans.
Accordingly, Americans plan to travel less and travel shorter distances.
Beaches, natural parks, cruises are among the vacation plans of Americans.
Only 12 percent plan a holiday abroad.
But not everyone can plan a vacation.
Slightly more than half of those with annual incomes of less than $50,000, 56 percent have a itinerary.
Those who do not have a holiday plan but plan to take short trips are also substantial.
These numbers can be deceiving because 40 percent of Americans say they will cancel their vacation plans if prices continue to rise.
Increasing prices affect not only holiday plans but also almost all areas, including house rents.
California is one of the most expensive states in America… And students who will just start university have difficulties in finding a place to stay.
“Landlords and companies want to rent homes to students, they know how much we need a place to stay, and they also know that we have to desperately give whatever price they want, otherwise we will have to stay in cars,” says Sanaa Sodhi.
Since March 2020, rents across the country have increased by an average of 17 percent. But the increase is especially greater in popular university areas. Rents rose 36 percent in Knoxville, Tennessee, 31 percent in Tempe, Arizona, 30 percent in Tampa, Florida, and 24 percent in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
“Especially in California, students have to travel long distances to their classes and eventually become homeless, staying with others during weekday classes or sleeping in their vehicles,” says California researcher David Garcia.
Inequality in income distribution is also on the agenda, along with price increases in the country.
A new study has revealed that 40 percent of working women in the United States earn less than $15 an hour. This rate is 50 percent for black women.
The gender pay gap has actually been a serious problem for a long time. In 2020, women earned 84 percent of men’s average hourly wage. In addition, in 2019 the average family had to earn at least $16.54 an hour to live on, and the situation is now worse for average families.
Electricity and gas prices have increased by 32 percent compared to last year, and prices in general have increased significantly with inflation.
Experts say that even $15 an hour is not a livable wage these days.
21 states in America increased the minimum wage in January, but most of the increases still haven’t reached $15. However, more local governments and companies raise the hourly wage to $15 or more.
Efforts to unionize are also increasing in some regions.
Erica Smiley, an executive at labor rights activist Jobs With Justice, says the low wages of a significant proportion of women are troubling, but she is hopeful of unionization and minimum wage increases.
Smiley thinks women have the wind at their back.
The war in Ukraine, the midterm elections in November, and domestic political debates are among the prominent issues on America’s agenda lately.
But the economy is the most important issue for Americans in all polls, and politicians are aware of this.
It seems that the political future of President Biden and the Democrats will be determined by the course of the economy.
The first test is in the by-elections on November 8, which will determine which party will control the Congress.