[국제]Highest inflation in 41 years in the US… ‘food crisis’ that hit the low-income class

[앵커]

Global warming and the aftermath of the war in Ukraine are causing a growing sense of crisis around the world about food shortages.

In the United States, where food prices are on the rise, an increasing number of low-income people are looking for free food centers, but it is difficult for volunteer groups to operate.

Reporter Eunkyung Kim delivers.

[기자]

The US inflation rate was 8.6% last month.

This is the largest increase in 41 years.

[재닛 옐런/ 미국 재무장관 (6월 초) : 우리는 받아들이기 힘든 인플레이션으로 거시 경제적 도전에 직면해 있습니다.]

In particular, food prices, which are closely related to our daily life, have risen sharply.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the price of a single egg in May rose 54% from two months ago, and wholesale milk prices rose 38% in April alone.

[드샹 로저스 / 미국 LA : 최근에 식비를 아끼기 위해 냉동식품 구매를 늘렸습니다. 신선한 재료를 사는 것보다 더 저렴하기 때문입니다.]

[수셋 아이리냐 / 미국 LA : 지금은 브랜드나 가격을 더 보게 되고, 얼마나 살지를 고민하게 됩니다. 나중에 사용할지 안 할지도 다시 생각하는 습관이 생겼습니다.]

As the price of a table soars, more and more people in the United States are looking for free meals.

However, volunteer groups that provided food for free are also struggling to meet the demand.

This is because food donation itself has decreased and operating budgets such as food purchases and labor costs have increased by more than five times.

Gasoline prices, which soared by about 50%, are also causing major disruptions in food procurement.

[델 번/ 봉사단체 관계자 : 올해 1월부터 음식을 찾는 사람들이 아주 많이 늘었습니다. 오늘만 벌써 380명이 음식을 받아갔습니다. 봉사단체에 공급되는 음식이 부족한 상황인데요. 음식을 저희 센터로 운반하고 운영하는 데에 (휘발유 폭등이) 영향을 주기 때문입니다.]

The United States is struggling to keep up with inflation, including raising interest rates the most in 28 years since 1994 and considering temporary fuel tax cuts.

However, among economists, pessimism that the United States will fall into a recession within a year is not strong enough, raising concerns that the food crisis for the low-income class will worsen in the future.

This is Eunkyung Kim from YTN World in LA, USA.

YTN Kim Eun-kyung ([email protected])

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