University of the Pacific's Center for Business and Policy Research Releases New Report on Inflation and the Cost of Living in San Joaquin County

The University of the Pacific's Center for Business and Policy Research (CBPR) has released a new report titled “San Joaquin County Spotlight: COVID-19, Inflation and the Cost of Living.” This County Spotlight provides an analysis of the impact of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic on the cost of living in San Joaquin County. It highlights the challenges faced by many households in meeting essential expenses such as housing, food, healthcare, and childcare, with BIPOC households being disproportionately affected. The Spotlight also examines the measures taken by federal, state, and local governments to alleviate the impact of the pandemic, as well as the effectiveness of these initiatives.

The analysis goes on to explore the changes in prices and inflation in the region, which have been driven by supply chain and labor shortages, expansive monetary policy, and pent-up consumer demand. The fluctuations in component and subcomponent prices during the pandemic are also analyzed, with food and beverage costs, recreation costs, and transportation costs showing the most significant increases.

The Spotlight concludes by presenting data from the 2022 Cost of Living Index (COLI), the only local-level cost of living index available in the US. This data shows the relative costs facing San Joaquin County residents and highlights the significant cost pressures faced by households in the region. Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by households in the region and the impact of inflation and the COVID-19 pandemic on the cost of living.