All of the Above with James Brown
The James Brown Commentary
The system is lying
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The system is lying

In which James takes on American inflation and unemployment stats.

Our money doesn’t go as far. That’s what a recent CNN poll says about the reality of many American families.


Despite low unemployment and cooling inflation rates, 39% of Americans are worried — most or all of the time — that their family's income won't cover the bills.  The anxiety is higher among Black people, and Latinos. About half of us feel this way.

All eerie echoes of early 2008, right before the Great Recession.

Take Angela Russell. She’s from Ohio. She has a good job. She’s an analyst at the CDC. Yet, she told CNN that grocery prices are "outrageous.” 

She’s right!

She, like most of us, has been forced to cut back — in big and little ways saying goodbye to streaming services and moving to a cheaper home. 

She’s not alone. 

CNN’s poll shows that around two-thirds of adults are cutting back too. Many of us are getting into money trouble, working extra jobs just to get by as our credit card usage soars.

These figures are the latest reminder that there’s something wrong with our unemployment and inflation stats.

The gap between government economic indicators and our lived experience seems bigger than ever. 

Someone or some system is lying, and I don’t think it’s Angela. 

What do you think? Do you feel the economy improving? Let me know in the comments and support my work at JamesBrownTV dot substack com. 

On that note, I'm James Brown, and as always, be well.

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All of the Above with James Brown
The James Brown Commentary
Musings on news, life, and television. A few minutes a day, five days a week. Proudly based in Rochester, New York. Brought to you by Modern Fire Studios.