Homicides in U.S. set to drop by record numbers this year The U.S. is on course to end 2023 with one of the largest annual drops in homicides on record, according to preliminary figures from AH Datalytics, a data analysis firm. Why it matters: The findings appear to be at odds with Americans' perception of crime both in their communities and in the rest of the country. More than three-quarters (77%) of Americans believe crime has increased in the U.S. since last year, according to a Gallup survey of 1,009 adults released last month. A majority (55%) also said crime was rising in their local area. "Both figures are similar to what Gallup measured last year and rank among the most pessimistic readings in the respective trends," the company said. https://www.axios.com/2023/12/28/us-murder-violent-crime-rates-drop Is Shoplifting Really Surging? Is the U.S. in the middle of a shoplifting wave? Target and other retail chains have warned of widespread theft. News outlets have amplified the story. On social media, people have posted videos of thieves looting stores. But the increase in shoplifting appears to be limited to a few cities, rather than being truly national. In most of the country, retail theft has been lower this year than it was a few years ago, according to police data. There are some exceptions, particularly New York City, where shoplifting has spiked. But outside New York, shoplifting incidents in major cities have fallen 7 percent since 2019, before the Covid pandemic. Why has the issue nonetheless received so much attention? Today’s newsletter tries to answer that question while taking a deeper look at recent shoplifting trends. Is Shoplifting Really Surging? Claims that the U.S. is in the middle of a retail theft wave are exaggerated. www.nytimes.com Gee, you don't think the public's perceptions about crime could be being purposely misled by RWM do ya? You don't think perceptions about inflation could be due to anchors at Faux droning on and on about it do ya? You know, while they fail to mention the historically low unemployment rate, the drop in the price of gas, the Dow setting records, 3rd qtr. GDP growth of almost 5%. From the Times' piece........ Videos of extreme but rare crimes can go viral today. On social media, people post videos of looting flash mobs or thieves ramming cars into stores. “There are millions of property crimes a year,” said Jeff Asher of the research firm AH Datalytics. As a result, people can always find outlandish anecdotes, even if crime is down. Conservative media has promoted these videos as evidence of disorder in liberal cities and under President Biden.
