NEW JERSEY (WABC) — One of the big issues on voters’ minds is frustration with inflation.

Economists say it’s going down, so why are we still paying more at the store?

Items such as grains, milk, meat, fruit and vegetables have grown by double digits since 2020.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the New York City, New Jersey metropolitan area, the price of grains and baked goods increased nearly 26 percent over 2020.

Dairy products increased by more than 15%, meat and other proteins increased by almost 22%, fruits and vegetables by 11.1%, soft drinks by almost 18% and other foods by 23.1%. The cost of dining out has increased by almost 24%.

Patrick Murray, director of Monmouth University’s Polling Institute, says the economy has driven many people thinking about ballot prices.

“And I think the key is they’re looking at what they’ve paid, what they’ve paid in their grocery bills, it’s higher than it was 4 years ago,” Murray said.

Jeanette Rosado said prices have not been anything to cheer about in recent years.

“I hope everything they say will happen in all these changes, the economy will be much better. Taxes. Everything,” Rosado said.

“At the end of the day, you couldn’t fight against the mainstream of the economy,” said one voter.

According to the New Jersey Board of Elections, Trump won Passaic County. Joe Biden won it in 2020.

Shoppers are hoping the new leadership change will lower food prices.

“I’m too high. I have a business … and it’s too big,” Joe Capalbo said.

Capalbo hoped it would be a Harris Administration that would address high prices. Now he just wants the next administration to help him.

“So we’ll see what happens, you have to wait and see what happens,” Capalbo said.

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