www.propublica.org/article/food...

And see more in the new @kypolicy.bsky.social report: kypolicy.org/kentucky-wor...

kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/03/affordability-is-a-crisis-for-kentuckians-heres-what-state-leaders-can-do-about-it/ 2/

in there

And see our new policy report, "Building a Kentucky Workers Can Afford," here: 7/ kypolicy.org/kentucky-wor... kypolicy.org/wp-content/u...

Learn more about how the rising cost of living and inadequate job quality are squeezing Kentuckians here: 6/ kypolicy.org/affordabilit...

There are actions that can be taken now at the state level to address affordability. Many policies are available to grow worker power and family incomes while mitigating the costs of basic goods and services. 5/

At the same time, wages for most workers have not kept up with economic growth since the '70s. Wage increases comes from how much power workers have to bargain with employers. And as policies have intentionally weakened unions and worker leverage, wages have fallen behind. 4/

Corporate monopolies and financial speculation in industries ranging from real estate to meat production to retirement savings have made things more expensive. And now across-the-board tariffs put in place by the Trump administration are raising costs further. 3/

The prices of too many basic needs are rising out of reach. Inadequate public investment means higher out-of-pocket costs for everything from child and health care to higher education and housing. 2/