A panel of regional experts during a May 24 webinar will examine a recent study by University of the Pacific’s Center for Business and Policy Research in partnership with the San Joaquin Council of Governments that lays out the challenges San Joaquin County households face due to inflation, higher prices, COVID-19 pandemic cost of living and more.
The San Joaquin County Spotlight: COVID-19, inflation and the cost of living provides valuable insights into those challenges to meet essential expenses such as housing, food, health care and childcare. Supply chain and labor shortages, expansive monetary policy and fiscal support, plus pent-up consumer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic ended an era of relatively low inflation.
The panel will discuss those challenges, government efforts to ease the economic strain, and 2022 Cost of Living Index. Panelists will include:
- Thomas Pogue, Executive Director of University of the Pacific’s Center for Business and Policy Research.
- Kristen Spracher-Birtwhistle, President/CEO of the United Way of San Joaquin County.
- Lisa Sunday Vela, CEO of the San Joaquin County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
- Leonard O. Hansen, CEO of the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin County.
Register for the webinar at noon Wednesday, May 24, 2023: https://bit.ly/3O144zQ.