CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The presidential debate on Thursday is already making headlines and history.
That's because it's the first time we'll see a former president and a current president take the stage together.
While the candidates are a rematch from 2020, many are curious how the top issues compare.
It's clear the economy, among some other issues, will top the priority list for voter issues. Each campaign has been using their own sets of data points to create a favorable economic picture of their time in office. But for voters, the view of the economy is going to depend on how you fit into it.
Federal data analyzed by NBC News shows wages are up just over 22% since the start of the pandemic. Over that time, prices are up almost 21%, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
It means for many workers, any salary bump was just enough to keep up with their expenses, rather than improve lifestyle or help them get ahead financially.
When it comes to jobs, NBC News found the unemployment rate fell from 6.4% when Joe Biden first came into office down to 4% in May, while under a Donald Trump presidency we saw unemployment also steadily declined to 3.5%
There's also a historical tactic to expect, dating back to 1980. Ronald Reagan kicked off his debate with the question: Are you better off than you were four years ago?
Of course, the answer depends on who you're asking.