05 November 2021: News junk of the day, from CNN
05 November 2021: News junk of the day, from CNN
On milk, the GOP fake inflation scare, and Guy Fawkes Day.
I saw the CNN story on Twitter, but elected to skip it because it wasn’t the time or place to listen to video. However, I worked in the dairy industry for a decade, and the claim did seem off, even if this was milk in NYC (which it wasn’t).
Eventually, I watched the report. Well, I tried to. How do you all watch “TV News”? That is a serious question.
While struggling through this hatchet job, I was reminded of the first time I was the subject of a TV news report. The second floor deck of our home in suburban Harrisburg, PA (the original developer’s home) detached itself from the siding while we were having an open house for the neighbors. I saw personally how, ummm, wrong TV reporting can be.
How bad is this story?
First, it is the latest “news” report that echos a Republican talking point that inflation is ostensibly out of control. Hint: that’s propaganda.
Second, it purports to show said inflation’s impact on a middle American household. In this case, it’s a family of 11 people (two adults, nine “children” of unknown age). The average family in the US has fewer than two children.
Third, the reporter did no fact checking. The interviewee claimed that her dollar is now worth 70% of what it was in June. That’s not true. The interviewee claimed that milk prices have increased more than 50% from a regular (not loss leader) price (for some unknown but implied-to-be-recent time). They haven’t.
Nationally, the average US milk price in September 2018 was $2.57 (2%, gallon, Walmart, US state capitals except AK) . Several stores clearly advertised loss leader prices; one was only $0.93 a gallon. In November 2021, the national average was $2.99. Note how unlikely it is that milk is regularly priced at $1.99/gallon anywhere in the US.
1. Inflation
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, in his cursing Joe Biden (Let’s Go, Brandon!) in a television interview last week, claimed that inflation was out of control. It’s not.
Moreover, as many folks on Twitter noted, the family could be eligible for monthly payments of up to $250 per child as part of the American Rescue Plan.
A September Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Americans said they were “very concerned” about rising prices for food and consumer goods. However, Republicans have been beating this drum since early summer, and news pundits have report their claims religiously and credulously.
In case you don’t believe my partisan claim:
In November 2020, shortly after the presidential election, more than half of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents (56%) said that the economic conditions of the country were either excellent or good. Today, just 16% say the same; 84% of Republicans say the economy is only fair or poor…
An overwhelming share of Republicans (78%) say that Biden’s policies have made the economy worse since he has taken office; just 3% say that his policies have made the economy better, while 18% say they have not had much of an effect.
A reminder that self-proclaimed Republicans range represent about 1-in-4 Americans (give or take slightly (20-29%), month-to-month).
2. Average middle class household
Never mind that “middle class” has no agreed upon meaning and varies widely by geography and if the sole measure is income.
This couple, Larry and Krista Stotler live in a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, Kennedale, TX. They have two biological children, six adopted children, and one foster child. Ages unknown. The average American family had 1.93 children in 2020.
Krista claims that she buys 12 gallons of milk a week. According to Twitter, that is excessive; it’s not if everyone drinks milk regularly. BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT (although Twitter users thought it was, as did Fox News).
The Stotlers live in a four bedroom, four bath, 3,300 sq ft (!) home with pool. This isn’t typical, either. The median value of homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is <$300K, considerably less than the $560,000 Zillow estimate for Larry and Krista Stotler’s home. This isn’t typical or average, either. Krista is a realtor.
3. Milk price fact check
It’s a simple matter to fact check milk prices, although they vary widely by region (because dairy cows are concentrated in a few states) and by week (because grocery stores use milk as a loss leader). Nevertheless, USDA monitors milk prices, both to farmers and retail.
Note that the interviewee did not specify if she was talking about whole, 2% or no-fat milk. I chose to investigate 2% milk because I built on Ballotpedia’s work from September 2018, which recorded Walmart prices in state capitals (except for Alaska). And 2% milk is less expensive than whole milk (more processing, less fat).
In September 2018, 2% milk at an Austin TX Walmart was $3.48/gal. On November 04, 2021, it was $2.92 at the Austin Superstore.
In other words, milk in Austin is cheaper this week than it was in 2018.
Kennedale TX is a Ft Worth suburb; Walmart 2% milk was $2.78, a little less expensive than in Austin.
The CNN story showed the family entering a Kroger. According to the Kroger website, the closest store to that Texas zip code sold 2% milk for $2.79 yesterday.
So it’s VERY likely that their milk is cheaper now than in September 2018, just like Austin. Insider stated that a gallon of whole milk was $3.09; its headline is a lie, too, compared with Houston TX prices for 2% milk.
💣Guy Fawkes Day (or Night), 05 November 1605
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
And what should we do with him? Burn him!
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