DoorDash data offers snapshot of economy voters are feeling ahead of midterms

By Fox News · Fox News

A new DoorDash report tracking millions of purchases shows inflation cooling ahead of the midterms, though the cost of everyday essentials still varies widely across the country. The findings offer a closer look at how those shifts are playing out for consumers, with affordability still shaped largely by where they live. The State of Local Commerce report highlights evolving spending patterns as price pressures ease in key categories. To track those changes, DoorDash analyzed affordability trends using three key measures: the Everyday Essentials Index, the Cheeseburger Index and the Breakfast Basics Index, which reflect price movements across household goods, restaurant meals and groceries. DOORDASH ROLLS OUT EMERGENCY GAS RELIEF AS PRICES SQUEEZE DRIVERS The analysis shows inflation easing across several categories, with some posting notable year-over-year declines. Egg prices have dropped significantly, lowering breakfast costs, while household goods prices have remained relatively stable. "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." Lachs said the company designed its indexes to go beyond raw data and help illustrate what price changes mean in everyday life for consumers. ONE LITTLE-KNOWN MEETING HELPS DECIDE WHAT AMERICANS CAN AFFORD — AND WHAT THEY CAN’T The Everyday Essentials Index, which monitors staples like toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, pain medicine and diapers, found that the average cost of these items has remained largely flat over the past 12 months. The most affordable city is Memphis, Tennessee, where the basket costs $51.93. While household costs have held steady, fast-casual spending spending has climbed slightly higher. DoorDash’s Cheeseburger Index, which tracks the cost of a classic meal of a burger, fries and a soda, found pr…