Across Kentucky, families are feeling the squeeze as the cost of living keeps rising, while wages have barely moved.

I spoke with Jason Bailey, the founder and executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, about what’s driving essential costs up across Kentucky, and what we should be watching as we head into the holiday season.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Ayisha Jaffer: We know life is getting more expensive across the board, but what are the main factors driving that increase in essential cost and inflation here in Kentucky?

Jason Bailey: There are several things going on. We saw a rapid increase in prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that had in part to do with shortages in the supply chain for a variety of

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