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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.
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DoorDash’s annual Cheeseburger Index revealed where Americans can still grab a full burger meal under $15. (iStock)
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.
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The DoorDash report shows inflation easing across several categories. (Marcus Brandt/Picture Alliance/Getty Images)
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…
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