RALEIGH — Today, Roy Cooper kicked off the statewide “Make Stuff Cost Less Tour” in Raleigh. This event was the first in a series of events across the state highlighting how Roy will continue his work in the U.S. Senate to make life more affordable for North Carolinians.
“Everywhere I go, most folks tell me they’re getting squeezed at the grocery store – it’s clear that food and grocery prices are simply out of control,” said Roy Cooper. “We need to end the chaotic tariffs driving up costs for farmers and working families and crack down on corporations that are ripping off working people. I’m ready to go to Washington to be an independent voice and work with anyone I can to make stuff cost less for North Carolinians.”
“I’m an educator, and with the rising cost of everything from child care to groceries — my take home pay continues to shrink,” said Raleigh mom and educator Stephanie Walker. “Stuff just costs too much – and right now, that’s getting harder and more expensive by the day. North Carolina needs Roy Cooper in the U.S. Senate who will work to lower costs and deliver for hardworking families.”
At the event, Roy unveiled the first part of his plan to make stuff cost less, focused on how he’ll work to lower the cost of food and groceries:
- Support Our Farmers and Stop Chaotic Tariffs. Tariffs drive up costs on farmers who have to pass the costs along to restaurants, grocery stores and hardworking North Carolinians.
- Block Anti-Competitive Mergers. Strengthen antitrust enforcement in grocery retail and food processing to block corporate mergers that reduce competition and raise prices.
- Ban algorithms on grocery pricing to make it illegal for companies to raise the price of groceries based on a specific customer.
- Make it illegal for food producers to reduce competition to increase prices using digital tools to collude. Stop companies from using algorithms to coordinate prices and supply information to drive up the cost.
Roy was joined by Pender Sharp, a farmer from Wilson County who spoke about how reckless tariffs have driven up costs for farmers across the state and by Stephanie Walker, a Raleigh mom and educator who spoke about how rising grocery costs are impacting her and her family.
Roy will continue the Make Stuff Cost Less campaign in the coming weeks, talking about reducing the cost of housing, utilities, health care and child care. He will meet with North Carolinians across the state to discuss his plans to lower costs for working families and to highlight how he will fight for them in the U.S. Senate. More stops will be announced soon.
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