South Carolina’s Affordability Crisis Deepens

South Carolina’s affordability crisis is hitting hard—45% of households struggle to cover basics like housing, healthcare, and groceries, placing the state near the national average. But beneath the surface, racial income gaps are making the squeeze worse, especially for Black and Hispanic workers. A Winthrop poll confirms most residents feel essentials are slipping out of reach, raising questions about why leaders focus on national issues instead of local pain points. Inflation, tariffs, and stagnant wages have eroded purchasing power since the pandemic, and energy costs could tighten things further. Still, economists see hope: inflation may ease quickly, and county-level data from Brookings offers deeper insight. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d956cef5a4860311