Scorecard: Latino Food Inflation Political Promises vs Reality
September 17, 2025
The Scorecard puts the food inflation political promises of 2024 on the table and dishes out some reality!
Republican Party
What They Promised: During the 2024 campaign the GOP painted a beautiful picture for Latino families:
- "Lower prices for everyone" - especially hardworking Latino families
- "Tariffs will make America rich" - and somehow make your groceries cheaper
- "Best economy ever" - where Latino families would thrive like never before
What They Delivered:
- Grocery prices posted their largest monthly increase in nearly three years - August 2025 saw food-at-home prices jump 0.6% in just one month, hitting a 3.2% annual rate. That's the steepest since October 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Beef prices hit record highs with steak jumping 4% in a single month - Food economist David Ortega reported on September 14th that beef and veal prices are up 16.6% compared to last year. Your carne asada just got a lot more expensive.
- Coffee prices surged 3.6% in one month due to tariffs, reaching 20-year highs - CNN reported September 12th that coffee is now 20.9% higher than last year, thanks to those brilliant 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports. Even your morning café con leche is a luxury now.
Democratic Party
What They Promised: - When they controlled the White House this is what the Dems promised:
-Targeted inflation relief for working families
- Support for small businesses that serve Latino communities
- Economic policies that don't treat your grocery bill like a political football
Less flashy than Trump's tariff theater, but let's see what they actually delivered.
What They Delivered:
Here's what food inflation looked like from 2022 to 2024 when Dems had the White House:
-2022: Peak Food Inflation Crisis. Food inflation reached a staggering 9.9% annual increase in 2022, the highest since 1979. Food-at-home (grocery) prices specifically spiked by 11.4% - the steepest increase since May 1979
-2023: Significant Cooling but Still Elevated. Food inflation began cooling dramatically in 2023, dropping to 5.8% for the year - a substantial decline from 2022's peak but still well above historical norms.
-2024: Return to Near-Normal Levels. Food inflation continued its downward trajectory in 2024, reaching 2.3% for the full year - close to the historical 20-year average of 2.6%. Food-at-home prices rose by only 1.2% in 2024, actually below their historical average.
It was a rough road but Democrats did follow through on their food inflation political promises.
LVUSA UPDATED SCORECARD
When we tally up food inflation promises versus grocery store reality, today's score reflects a clear difference in delivery:
Trump 0 - Democrats 1
When politicians promise lower prices but deliver record-high grocery bills, Latino families pay the real cost. Your grocery receipt doesn't lie, even when campaign ads do.
Stay tuned for next week's edition, where we'll continue tracking who keeps their word and who just keeps talking.
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