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VOICES FROM GEORGIA: The Peach State Affordability Crisis Through Georgians’ Eyes

By February 18, 2026No Comments

From Cattle Ranchers to Chocolatiers, Trump’s Policies Are Devastating the Local Economy

 

  • Scott Mitchell, Macon boutique owner:

    • “I just placed an order yesterday to restock, and it was a $966 order. They sent me an email this morning. The tariffs on it were going to be $587, which would double the price of something.” [WMGT, 2/10/26]

  • Andrew Henke, Avondale Estates violin shop owner:

    • “At this point, it’s just another gut punch […] Everything costs more… and it’s exponentially getting worse with the impulsive tariffs.” [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/5/26]

  • George Lawes, Decatur antiques shop owner:

    • “It makes for such an uncertain business climate for small businesses. Small businesses have a hard time adjusting to and weathering these ups and downs, these price increases. It’s very difficult for us to plan for it and to budget for it.” [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/5/26]

  • Brandon Eley, LaGrange shoe retailer:

    • “We’ve kind of just been in limbo for the whole last year because, you know, we can’t take the risk of investing the money in those styles without being confident that our customers would even pay that much. […] We’re a small business, and we don’t really have unlimited funds to be able to keep investing, but six months from now, if somebody makes somebody mad, we could be right back, and then all of that money is just down the drain.” [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/5/26]

  • Florence Allen, Macon toy shop owner:

    • “I’m just carefully picking and choosing what I’m reordering and the quantities and stuff. I tried to bulk up my inventory before a lot of the tariffs hit. And since that time, my average tariff hit is running about 15%. And, you know, we’re making price adjustments where we can.” [Georgia Public Broadcasting, 12/15/25]

  • Reece Payton, Hogansville cattle ranger:

  • Aaron Brown, Suwanee music shop owner:

    • “Due to tariff confusion and just tariffs in general. I lost out on what I calculate to be upwards of $15,000 in sales. I sell products that only a small number of people believe that they actually need. This ends up being a sort of fun thing for a lot of folks, or an extra. And so anytime prices go up outside of here on things people do need — clothes, food, things like that, gas — we are going to take a hit in sales.” [Marketplace, 11/11/25]

  • Matt Weyandt, Atlanta chocolatier: 

    • “Our price even before the tariffs went into effect more than doubled over the last two years. We were paying between $4,500 to $6,000 a ton for cocoa today with the tariffs, now we’re paying $14,000 a ton on some of our beans. And the price of our sugar has gone up…Cocoa just doesn’t grow in the United States. It’s the core of all of our products.” [11Alive, 8/19/25]

  • Elaine Read, Atlanta chocolatier: 

    • “At the federal level, obviously the tariff situation is playing a pretty immediate impact. Even though some of the tariffs have gone on pause, there is a general sense of just not knowing where things are going to land. And that’s a really difficult environment to be making business decisions on.” [11Alive, 8/19/25]

  • Katrina Golden, Augusta bakery owner:

    • “Unlike big businesses, I don’t have the cash flow to make bulk purchases that could save money in the long run. There is no wiggle room in my bottom line. […] [H]ow do you create a sustainable business plan when policies change so rapidly?” [Black Enterprise, 8/19/25]

Georgian Experts Are Sounding The Alarm About High Costs

 

  • Liz Coyle, executive director, Georgia Watch: 

    • “I think that the company and the [Public Service Commission] can acknowledge that people are already feeling the pinch.” [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/18/26]

  • Roger Tutterow, Kennesaw State University economics professor:

  • Shannon Self-Brown, Georgia State University professor:

    • “Thousands of people in DeKalb County are living in extended-stay hotels but are not included in federal homelessness counts or local administrative systems. These families are excluded when resources are allocated, yet they face the same instability, cost burdens, and risks to health and safety as other people who lack stable housing.” [The Champion, 1/16/26]

  • Patty Durand, director, Georgians for Affordable Energy:

    • “Georgia electric customers are getting electric bills that look like monthly car payments.” [Reuters, 11/5/25]

Trump and Republicans Are Raising Georgians’ Health Care Costs

 

  • Teresa Acosta, Dunwoody resident:

    • “[My premium] increased seven times over. It crushed me. […] I’m having to ask my children to help me do things that should only be my responsibility, and that has broken my heart. They should concentrate on going to school, getting good grades, making friends — not paying a bill.’” [MS Now, 1/15/26]

  • Barbara Brockway, Georgia accountant: 

    • “We’ll definitely have to cut back on everyday expenses. Discretionary things like eating out, vacations.’” [CBS News, 1/14/26]

  • Sheri Barlow, Albany small business owner:

    • “When I looked at the letter, my heart just sank because it absolutely doubled. When your insurance premiums double for yourself and employees, and the rate is set for business with Medicare and Medicaid, where do you pull it from? Do you pull it from your children’s college funds?’” [WALB, 12/10/25]

  • Mary Campbell, Duluth small business owner:

    • “So, if I want the same plan, I will pay $1,100 more a month. Without subsidies, it’s going to be $2,379. If I want to keep my doctor, I have one option. And if I want my children to keep their pediatrician that they’ve had their entire lives, I have one insurance option. I’m going to be purchasing what amounts to a catastrophic plan and paying the same amount of money. If I’m being completely honest, if I didn’t have children, I would very likely not purchase insurance.” [WABE, 12/10/25]

  • Lindsay Corley, Atlanta freelancer:

    • “Will it mean I have to move back with my parents? Will I have to take less medication, and just be in a lot more pain? These are the things that go through your mind. I’m not sure people understand that.” [The Bulwark, 10/19/25]

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