Summary
The White House cited DoorDash data to claim progress in reducing inflation, facing criticism for using non-traditional economic sources. DoorDash reported a drop in grocery prices and steady prices for essentials over the past year. Experts argue such data is not a substitute for official government statistics.
Key Facts
- The White House used DoorDash data to highlight economic progress, claiming inflation is under control.
- DoorDash reported that grocery prices for breakfast items dropped 14% in six months.
- Prices of essentials, like toilet paper and shampoo, reportedly remained stable, decreasing by an average of 2 cents.
- DoorDash data focuses on local trends from hundreds of millions of transactions.
- Experts caution against replacing government metrics like the Consumer Price Index with private-sector data.
- Inflation in September stood at 3%, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Inflation peaked at 9.1% during Joe Biden’s presidency, but has since decreased.
- Private-sector data can show trends but may not reflect the whole economic picture, experts say.
