DoorDash has released its State of Local Commerce report, offering a detailed snapshot of consumer spending and inflation trends ahead of the midterm elections [1]. The report, based on millions of purchases, indicates that inflation is easing across several categories, although the cost of everyday essentials continues to vary significantly depending on location [1]. DoorDash analyzed affordability using three indexes: the Everyday Essentials Index, the Cheeseburger Index, and the Breakfast Basics Index, which track price movements for household goods, restaurant meals, and groceries respectively [1].
According to DoorDash's chief analytics officer, Jessica Lachs, national averages provide useful benchmarks, but local economic conditions can differ greatly [1]. The Everyday Essentials Index found that the average cost of staples such as toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, pain medicine, and diapers has remained largely flat over the past 12 months, with Memphis, Tennessee, being the most affordable city at $51.93 for the basket [1].
Fast-casual spending has seen a slight increase, with the Cheeseburger Index showing a 3.7% rise in the cost of a classic burger meal (burger, fries, soda) from $17.70 to $18.35 nationally over the past year [1]. This closely tracks the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ food-away-from-home consumer price index, which rose 3.9% in February [1]. However, local price differences are stark: in Lincoln, Nebraska, the meal averages $12.47, while in Anchorage, Alaska, it reaches $26.96 [1].
The Breakfast Basics Index revealed a significant 22.3% drop in prices over the past year, largely attributed to falling egg prices [1]. The most affordable cities for these breakfast items are Greensboro, North Carolina ($2.60), Richmond, Virginia ($2.67), and Fort Worth, Texas ($2.81) [1]. DoorDash designed these indexes to help consumers understand how price changes impact everyday life, emphasizing that there is no single story across local economies [1].
CONCLUSION
DoorDash's report shows inflation cooling in key consumer categories, but local price disparities remain pronounced. While household essentials have stayed flat and breakfast costs have dropped sharply, fast-casual meal prices have edged up slightly. These findings suggest that economic conditions and affordability continue to be shaped by regional factors, offering voters a nuanced view of the economy ahead of the midterms.