California grieving: Two thirds of Golden State residents say its economy is tanking, with low wages and high rents driving millions to consider joining Joe Rogan and Mark Wahlberg and flee
Millions of Californians say the state’s economy is tanking, worry about rising prices and are cutting out meals because rents are so high, says a new report that’s taking the shine off the Golden State.
Research from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows that nearly three in 10 Californians say the lack of well-paying work has pushed them to find a cheaper place to leave.
Many would join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already left the high-tax state β an exodus that includes celebrities like actor Mark Wahlberg, podcaster Joe Rogan and others.
Researchers called the report a wake-up call for the administration of California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose approval rating has fallen as voters complain about rising costs.
Time to leave. A mover puts a California householder’s belongings into a van as millions weigh whether the state has become too expensive
The California exodus involves celebrities such as podcaster Joe Rogan (left) and actor Mark Wahlberg
βThe majority of Californians think the state is heading in the wrong direction and predict bad economic times for the state over the next 12 months,β said Mark Baldassare, who led the survey.
‘Three in ten residents worry every day or almost every day about housing costs and pension savings.’
The 45 page report was released this week as California residents β and those who have left the state β posted on social media about the eye-watering prices of homes and groceries.
Computer engineer Tomas Moll complained online about “how expensive groceries have become” and how he left after spending more than $5 on everyday staples like oat milk.
Another Twitter /
βI love it here, my backyard has the best beaches in Southern California,β he posted.
“I’ve invested heavily in this great city, and it’s almost worth the money.”
Californians pay too much for most items, says RentCafe, an apartment listing site. Rents there are twice as high as the national average, utilities are 22 percent higher and food and groceries cost 10 percent more.
Californians are almost as pessimistic about the future now as they were during the pandemic
Not all Californians live in a mansion in Beverly Hills. Pictured: A studio apartment in Los Angeles, shared by several residents with little money
PPIC’s survey of 2,250 adult residents last month found millions of Californians were gloomy about the state’s prospects.
Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) expected bad economic times in the next twelve months.
Eight in ten β 82 percent β ββsaid the lack of good-paying jobs was a problem for the state.
Three in 10 Californians β including most low-income residents β said they should have reduced the number of meals or cut back on groceries to save money.
Many others have put off going to the doctor or are having trouble paying a utility bill, rent or mortgage.
An overwhelming 71 percent of residents said today’s children would be worse off than their parents.
In 2020, only 63 percent of Californians felt this way.
Nearly three in ten (28 percent) have considered moving to a cheaper home or neighborhood to make ends meet.
For more than a fifth of them, that would mean moving across state lines.
A worrying number of Golden State residents have been skipping meals to save money
Millions of Californians say there just aren’t enough good-paying jobs. Pictured: a McDonald’s drive-thru in Belmont
Lower-income Californians are feeling the pressure more than most
California’s population grew rapidly throughout the 20th century, but peaked around 2019-2020 and has slowly declined since then, thanks to fewer births and more residents leaving, often to live more cheaply elsewhere.
The state posted a net loss of 341,866 residents last year, many of whom moved across the state line to Arizona and Texas, where there are lower taxes, cheaper housing and looser environmental regulations.
It’s not just workers at big box stores and fast food chains who are being priced out of state.
In recent years, a slew of Hollywood stars have ditched California and moved their families elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally amid the Golden State’s tax hikes and high crime rates.
Wahlberg put his 12-bedroom Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $87.5 million in April 2022, saying he moved to low-tax Nevada to provide a “better life” for his children.
Rogan announced his plans to leave Los Angeles, California in 2020, saying it was “overcrowded” and that he wanted “more freedom.” He lives in a lakeside mansion in Austin, Texas.
Other celebrities leaving California include Superman actor Dean Cain, musician Rod Stewart, actress Hilary Swank, actor Matt Damon and technology titan Elon Musk.