US Consumer prices continued to surge in June. Year-over-year Consumer Price Index soared 9.1%, the largest gain since 1981. Utahns and Americans overall are citing it as the number one issue for them and their families. Whether it’s gas, meat, or necessities, prices have been on the rise. Today, we discuss inflation and other key economic insights with Gardner Institute Chief Economist and Public Finance Senior Research Fellow Phil Dean. 

On June 21, the Gardner Institute will honor Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow Jim Wood with its Lifetime Achievement Award. For 47 years, Jim has been a beloved member of the University of Utah family. His continuing work to help us better understand our state, its economy, and its people has helped build a better future for all  Utahns. We sat down with Jim to discuss his career, current economic trends, and what's next for him as he continues to pursue his research passions.

Welcome to the Informed Discussions podcast, where we discuss the latest economic, demographic, and public policy research that is helping Utah prosper. Today, we’ll be talking about a topic on the minds of Utahns: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war of choice in Ukraine, current trends in gas and energy prices, and the future of renewable energy with our guest, Gardner Institute Senior Energy Analyst Tom Holst.