Freeman's Barbershop in Milledgeville, Georgia, opened in 1968 and remains a community hub where residents discuss how the local economy has changed. Residents of Baldwin County say the area has lost major employers, including Central State Hospital, several nearby prisons, Reed manufacturing and Mohawk, leaving many frustrated that there are plenty of restaurants but few jobs. Property taxes and rising diesel prices are central worries, and one truck driver says many truckers have stopped moving their trucks. Political analyst Cory Ruth says affordability, inflation, gas prices and fatigue with the party in power cut across party lines, while cautioning that recent midterm polls have missed rural and working-class voters. The county was one of just three in Georgia to back Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024.
Summary written by Upside AI from the original article. Read the source for full details.
Read the original on foxreno.com ↗
Keywords
midterm electionsinflationfuel pricesemployment
Open a keyword to see other news on the same topic.
Related news
- Georgia swing voters in Milledgeville weigh 2026 election
The article looks at voters in Milledgeville, Georgia, where the local economy has shifted in ways that are reshaping daily life and political attitudes. Residents say the area has lost major employers, including Central State Hospital, Reed Manufacturing and Mohawk, leaving many with plenty of restaurants but few jobs. Property taxes and rising diesel prices are top concerns for voters and truckers alike. Political analyst Cory Ruth says the issues cut across party lines, citing the war, gas prices, affordability or inflation, and fatigue with the party in power. He cautions that Georgia is not a guaranteed win for either party, noting that recent midterm polling has missed rural, working-class and blue-collar voters.
- Georgia swing voters in Milledgeville weigh 2026 election
Residents of Milledgeville, Georgia, a former state capital in Baldwin County, say the local economy has changed after losing major employers including Central State Hospital, Reed manufacturing and Mohawk. The county voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024, and voters cite property taxes and high diesel and fuel costs as main concerns. Analyst Cory Ruth says these issues cut across party lines and that voters are fatigued with the party in power. He warns that recent midterm polling has missed many rural and working-class voters.
- Georgia swing voters in Milledgeville weigh 2026 election
Freeman's Barbershop in Milledgeville, Georgia, which opened in 1968, serves as a gathering place where residents discuss a shifting economy in Baldwin County. Barber Don Reese says the area has lost major employers, including Central State Hospital, Reed manufacturing and Mohawk, and that frustration is widespread. Voters cite rising property taxes and high diesel prices that have left many truckers not moving their trucks, while analyst Cory Ruth says issues such as gas prices, affordability, inflation and fatigue with the party in power cut across party lines. Ruth also cautions that Georgia is not a guaranteed win for either party, noting that recent midterm polling has missed rural and working-class voters. The article suggests these conversations may shape how voters cast their ballots in 2026.
- Rising Costs Continue to Challenge U . S . Consumers : How Much Longer Can They Cope ?
Consumer prices in the U.S. rose again in September 2026: CPI climbed to 3.7% year-over-year from 3.4% in August, mainly driven by a 9.1% jump in gasoline prices in a single month. Core inflation also edged up from 2.4% to 2.6%. Wholesale diesel prices soared 21% in one month, and the average retail diesel price hit $6.32 per gallon by mid-October, nearly double the $3.66 a year earlier, according to AAA; experts warn that transport costs will feed into the prices of other goods. Retail sales still rose 0.8% in September, but excluding gasoline they rose only 0.2%. The labor market is showing signs of weakening: the economy added just 29,000 jobs in September versus 90,000 expected, unemployment rose to 4.2%, and inflation-adjusted weekly paychecks fell year-over-year for the first time since May. The Fed raised rates to 3.75%-4.00% in September, its first hike since 2023, and 16 of 18 officials are considering at least one more hike, while the 30-year mortgage rate reached 7.46% by mid-October.
- Trump hits his favorite insane talking points at weekend rallies
President Donald Trump rallied in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday and Highland Heights, Kentucky, on Saturday, repeating familiar lines on topics including his makeup and a spelling joke about 'dumb,' which the author calls nonsensical. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff described the speech as 'senile babbling.' The author argues Trump would help Republicans more by staying out of the final weeks of the midterm campaign so candidates can define their own races. The column says Trump dismisses voter concerns about inflation, corruption and the cost of gas and groceries as hoaxes.
- Retail price impacts from the Iran war are uneven but add up for US households before midterms
More than seven months into the U.S. war with Iran, higher fuel prices are making driving and flying more expensive and pushing up the cost of some goods, though retailers have not raised prices across the board. Moody's Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi estimates the war has cost the average U.S. household almost $2,000, including $1,100 in higher energy prices, $540 in higher interest rates and $360 in military costs. The national average gasoline price was $4.33 a gallon, 45% above its prewar level, while diesel rose 68% to $6.33, according to AAA. Airfares were about 22% higher than a year earlier, and USDA now expects grocery prices to rise 2.4% this year, up from an initial forecast of 1.7%. Many companies have absorbed part of their higher costs, but a sharp rise in wholesale prices suggests some may pass on more if fuel prices stay high.
Related markets
Latest news
- One of this year's most important relationships in global financial markets is falling apart
One of the most important relationships in global markets has started to unravel over the past couple of weeks. Investors are scrambling to work out what it could mean for the economy and their portfolios.
- 2 High-Flying Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Decade
The article argues healthcare is rebounding in 2026, with Merck (MRK) shares up 39% and AbbVie (ABBV) up 24% year to date, versus about 12% for the S&P 500. Merck's second-quarter revenue rose 5% to $16.6 billion, beating estimates, with Keytruda sales of $8.4 billion, though Keytruda may lose patent exclusivity by 2028. AbbVie's second-quarter revenue grew 10.2% to nearly $17 billion and adjusted EPS rose 22.9% to $3.65, driven by Skyrizi and Rinvoq sales growing about 24%. AbbVie is on a streak of 54 consecutive annual dividend increases, including its time as part of Abbott Laboratories, qualifying it as a Dividend King. The author concludes both are attractive long-term holdings based on financial results, pipelines, and dividends.
- Nvidia (NVDA) Stock Price Lags Massive Earnings Growth—A Compelling Value Opportunity
Munro Partners' Munro Global Growth Fund posted a -12.6% net return in Q3 2026, trailing the MAET.ASX return of -13.8%, with long holdings the main detractors. The fund's letter named NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) its largest contributor, citing strong earnings growth and guidance for at least 70% revenue growth next fiscal year, versus consensus of 45%. Nvidia reported quarterly revenue of USD96.2bn in August, up 106% year on year, and management said growth would have been closer to 100% without supply constraints. As of October 12, 2026, NVDA closed at $214.13, down 4.23% over the past month and up 19.23% over the past year, with a $5.16 trillion market cap and a 52-week range of $164.27 to $243.37. The fund says demand for semiconductors and AI remains strong, creating a constructive setup as capex and political fears are now priced in.
- Better Artificial Intelligence Stock for 2026: C3.ai vs. SentinelOne
The article compares C3.ai, which sells enterprise AI applications, with SentinelOne, which provides AI-powered autonomous cybersecurity. In fiscal 2026 (ended April 30), C3.ai's revenue was nearly $250.3 million, down 35.7%, with a net loss of $470.4 million and negative free cash flow of $190.7 million. SentinelOne's fiscal 2026 (ended January 31) revenue reached $1.0 billion, up 21.9%, with a net loss of $450.7 million and free cash flow of about $75.9 million, though stock-based compensation equaled roughly 388.4% of operating cash flow. The article cites C3.ai's restructuring plan from February 2026 and long government sales cycles as risks, and SentinelOne's competition from larger vendors and reliance on Amazon hosting. It says SentinelOne trades at a lower valuation relative to sales, while C3.ai has no future earnings estimates.
- Salazar Resources to Begin Drilling the Yumi Gold-Silver Veins at Tarqui, with Porphyry Drilling Planned at Monja, Ecuador
Salazar Resources closed a $3,500,000 non-brokered private placement announced on October 8, 2026, and outlined its exploration plan. Phase 1 is about 1,500 metres of drilling in five holes at the Yumi gold-silver veins on its 100%-owned Tarqui project, with drilling expected to begin in late October 2026, and the veins have not previously been drilled. Selective rock-chip samples returned 105 g/t Au and 1,038 g/t Ag, and historical BHP holes intersected porphyry-style mineralization nearby, which the company interprets as lying on the periphery of a porphyry center not yet located. Phase 2 contemplates up to about 3,500 metres of drilling in four holes at the 100%-owned Monja copper-gold porphyry target from the first quarter of 2027, subject to surface access and permits. A soil survey of about 895 samples is also planned at Quimi, part of the Tarqui-Quimi project.
- Musk: AI’s Hard Part Is “Scaling Power”: 3 Stocks Uniquely Suited to Win This New Bottleneck Trade
Microsoft said it will scale its Maia chips to multi-gigawatt deployments starting next calendar year, and Elon Musk said scaling power is the hard part of AI. The article argues power is an input that chip and app companies cannot copy quickly, which favors Vistra (VST), Constellation Energy (CEG) and GE Vernova (GEV). Vistra has lost nearly a fifth of its value over the past year even though its adjusted EBITDA rose to $5.91 billion, while Constellation's normalized EPS is expected to reach $13.29 in fiscal 2027. GE Vernova's revenue is expected to reach $60.7 billion by fiscal 2028, and Jefferies has a $298 price target on Vistra. The article warns that all three stocks could move with the mood around AI, regardless of their results.
Get the briefing on Telegram or Zalo
Join the Upside Telegram channel or Zalo group for the Vietnam stocks and gold briefing at 8:00 and 19:00 (Vietnam time) on trading days, plus a weekly wrap on Saturday morning.