Pastime | Episode
Pastime

4. Inflation Drives Divided Spending In Pennsylvania - JIM MCTAGUE 091826

The John Batchelor Show | Sep 18 2026 | 00:08:50

1945 LANCASTER COUNTY
CInflation Drives Divided Spending In Pennsylvania
Jim McTague shares observations on inflation while traveling across Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, illustrating a bifurcated K-shaped economy. High gasoline prices, averaging over $4.20 to $4.39 per gallon, are heavily squeezing lower-income families and reducing convenience store spending. Conversely, wealthier residents and affluent tourists continue spending heavily at specialty venues, such as Groff's butcher shop in Elizabethtown and boutique stores in Lititz. While local meat suppliers and pretzel shops report booming demand, even prosperous shoppers are beginning to display subtle penny-pinching habits on expensive goods like artisanal chocolates, reflecting widespread pressure from sustained energy costs. (4)