David Swenson, research scientist, was interviewed for a March 9 KFAB story, "Rising Gas Prices Could Affect Spending Habits."
"If you have to put gas in your tank to get to work, that's just the way it is--and if it means less money at the end of the month, everything suffers," says Iowa State University economist Dave Swenson.
He says the longer high gas prices persist, the more it could increase household debt as people use credit cards to cover growing costs for necessary spending on things like energy and food.
"Right now, they're getting hit from all directions at once--from general inflation, they're also getting hit with these gas prices which are going to wrap around and increase prices on a wide range of other products we need every day," Swenson says.
This story also covered by
KWWL, March 8
Iowa Capital Dispatch
WHO Radio, March 9
Swenson was also interviewed by:
Donnelle Eller, Des Moines Register, about the role of insurance industries
Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, about the supply of skilled manufacturing workers in the Quad City area
Nicole Tam, KCCI, on gas prices
Swenson was also interviewed for a March 21 Yahoo News story, "Iowans respond to delayed project giving Apple $200 million in public subsidies: 'It's just welfare.'"
Dave Swenson, an economic research scientist at Iowa State University, called the agreement a "political decision." He told Fox News that it was a way for public officials to "pat themselves on the back and pretend they’re instrumental in economic growth."
"These data centers get extraordinary tax breaks," Swenson said. "Tax breaks that aren’t available for other types of businesses, tax breaks that don’t apply to existing businesses that are already in business and paying their taxes."
And for March 23 Successful Farming story, "FARMERS SEEK RELIEF FROM SOARING FUEL PRICES, SUPPLY SHORTAGES."
Dave Swenson, an Iowa State University research scientist who specializes in transportation economics, has said a biofuel boost would do little to cut fuel prices.
“We do not have a shortage of fuel in the United States,” he said, adding that the fuel prices are dictated by global factors.