DoorDash Data Reveals Economic Reality Voters Face Ahead of Midterms

Inflation Cools Unevenly Across US, DoorDash Data Reveals Regional Price Disparities

Inflation appears to be easing ahead of the midterm elections, though consumers still face significantly different costs depending on where they live, according to a comprehensive new report from DoorDash that analyzed millions of purchases nationwide.

The delivery giant’s State of Local Commerce report offers a granular look at how price pressures are evolving across different categories and regions, providing insights that national averages often mask.

“There’s really no single story across local economies,” Jessica Lachs, DoorDash’s chief analytics officer, told Fox News Digital. “National averages are a useful benchmark, but economic conditions can vary significantly at the local level.”

To track these changes, the company developed three key measures: the Everyday Essentials Index, the Cheeseburger Index, and the Breakfast Basics Index. These metrics reflect price movements across household goods, restaurant meals, and groceries, respectively.

The Everyday Essentials Index, which monitors common household staples like toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, pain medicine, and diapers, shows prices have remained relatively stable over the past 12 months. Memphis, Tennessee, emerged as the most affordable city for these items, with a basket costing $51.93.

While household goods prices have held steady, the restaurant sector shows a different picture. The Cheeseburger Index, which tracks the cost of a classic meal consisting of a burger, fries, and a soda, revealed a modest 3.7% increase over the past year, with the national average rising from $17.70 to $18.35. This closely mirrors the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ food-away-from-home consumer price index, which rose 3.9% in February.

However, the national figure conceals dramatic regional variations. In Lincoln, Nebraska, a cheeseburger meal averages just $12.47, while in Anchorage, Alaska, the same meal costs more than twice as much at $26.96.

“When you look at the top 100 cities, you see some pretty stark differences in how much a cheeseburger meal can cost,” Lachs noted.

Perhaps the most encouraging news comes from the Breakfast Basics Index, which monitors items like eggs, a glass of milk, a bagel, and an avocado. Prices in this category fell by 22.3% over the past year, driven largely by declining egg prices that had previously surged due to avian flu outbreaks and supply chain disruptions.

The best breakfast bargains can be found in Greensboro, North Carolina ($2.60), Richmond, Virginia ($2.67), and Fort Worth, Texas ($2.81).

Lachs explained that the company designed these indexes to translate raw economic data into metrics that illustrate what price changes mean in everyday life for consumers. By tracking items people regularly purchase rather than abstract categories, the indexes provide a more relatable picture of inflation’s impact.

The report comes at a politically sensitive time, with inflation continuing to rank among voters’ top concerns heading into the midterm elections. While federal data has shown inflation moderating from its peak, many consumers remain skeptical as prices for many goods and services remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The findings underscore how macroeconomic trends can play out differently at the local level, where regional factors like transportation costs, labor markets, and local regulations can significantly influence prices. These local variations mean that while some Americans are experiencing notable relief from inflation, others continue to face persistent price pressures.

For retailers and restaurant chains, this regional variation presents both challenges and opportunities. National pricing strategies may need to be increasingly calibrated to local economic conditions, and consumer expectations around pricing continue to evolve as they adjust to the post-pandemic economy.

As the country heads toward the midterm elections, these localized economic differences may influence voter sentiment differently across regions, potentially complicating political messaging around economic issues that often relies on national statistics.