Upper Northwest residents feeling the pressure of inflation

Residents of upper Northwest know they are lucky that they have a roofs over their head and access to food, but they acknowledge that they are still struggling with rising costs for housing, gasoline, and groceries.

And, as they go to the polls on Election Day, they say they worry what the state of the economy means for younger generations.

An October study from Pew Research Center found that American adults across all economic classes are struggling to make ends, with 60% of Americans saying they don’t have enough income. Those who are low income struggle the most, with 49% of lower income Americans reported they were unable to pay all their monthly bills, Pew found.

Approximately 70% of American adults have had to cut back on luxuries, such as eating out and streaming services, and 54% have not been able to save money for the future, the study found. About 20% of Americans struggled to pay their mortgage or their rent in the past year and 44% said they had difficultly to afford a necessity, according to Pew.

Mary Pendergast, a longtime resident of Tenleytown, said the rising cost of living was obscene and was beyond the means of most Americans.

Pendergast said she was grateful to be a home owner and not have to pay high rent.

“I worry about my children and grandchildren,” Pendergast said regarding the economy’s future and how it may affect her younger family members.

Amy Shannon, a Cleveland Park resident, said she was fortunate but was trying stretch her grocery budget and has cut back on eating out. She said she has watched housing prices go up over the past few years.

Shannon said she was worried about her college-aged daughter finding a job when she graduates.

“I wasn’t planning on my daughter inheriting a bad economy,” Shannon said.

Shannon, who lives in a neighborhood of federal workers, said she witnessed the mass government layoffs over the past two years and how those workers have worked to make ends meet.

Dedicated government workers shouldn’t be treated like that, Shannon said.

Kevin Varney, an AU Park resident, said he blamed the rising cost on the Trump administration and its policies, with the pandemic also having played a significant part in the rise of prices.

Varney said that a change in policies could help Americans and lower the cost of living.

The national debt is unsustainable for younger generations, Varney said regarding the multi trillion debt, which continues to grow every day.

Michele Bond, a D.C. resident since 1958, said she was fortunate but frustrated for other Americans.

Bond had switched to a more plant-based diet and was able to save money by buying less meat and more beans.

“Healthcare is too expensive and hard to get,” Bond said. Bond said she wanted more affordable healthcare for Americans.

Bond said her daughter has a friend who was recovering from cancer but had to return to work to pay her medical bills.

“There’s a lot going on,” Bond said regarding the current US economy.