Since the Biden administrator called inflation “temporary”, the US has seen 13 months in a row of sky-high costs
Six months after the president said that inflation reached its peak, the consumer price index reached a new peak in 40 years.
The United States has experienced 13 months in a row of high inflation since the Biden administration dismissed concerns about rising costs, saying the contributing factors were “temporary”.
“We have seen some inflation in recent months, and we – at least on an annual basis – will continue, I think throughout the rest of the year, to see higher inflation rates, perhaps around 3 percent,”[ads1]; the finance minister said. Janet Yellen said of inflation in early June 2021. “But I personally think this represents transient factors.”
About a month later, in July, President Biden suggested that there was no reason to worry about inflation, explaining that it would be “temporary.”
“We also know that as our economy has recovered, we have seen some price increases,” Biden said in a speech on July 19 last year. “Some people have raised concerns that this may be a sign of sustained inflation. But that is not our view.”
JUNE INFLATION DISTRIBUTION: WHERE CONSUMER PRICES INCREASE FASTEST?
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks at a press conference, after attending the G7 Finance Ministers’ meeting, at Winfield House in London, UK on 5 June 2021 (Justin Tallis / Pool via REUTERS / Reuters Photos)
Biden added: “Our experts believe, and the data show, that most of the price increases we have seen are expected to be temporary.”
On Wednesday, about a year after Yellen, Biden and central bank governor Jerome Powell all downplayed inflation at 5.4% in the US, inflation rose to 9.1%, something that has not been seen in four decades.
It marks fastest inflation rate since December 1981.
SKYING INFLATION FORCES BUYERS TO WORK OVERTIME AND CHANGE DIET WHEN PRICES STOK
First Lady Jill Biden listens as President Biden talks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Friday 17. June 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo / Evan Vucci / AP Newsroom)
So-called core prices, which exclude more volatile measurements of food and energy, rose 5.9% from the previous year. Core prices also rose 0.7% on a monthly basis – higher than in April and May – indicating that underlying inflationary pressures remain strong and widespread.
Price increases were extensive, suggesting that inflation may not be near the top: Energy prices rose 7.5% in June from last month, up 41.6% from last year. Petrol costs on average 59.9% more than a year ago and 11.2% more than in May. The food index, meanwhile, rose 1% in June, when consumers paid more for goods such as cereals, chicken, milk and fresh vegetables.
FED’S POWELL MEETING WITH LAWMAKERS AT CAPITOL HILL BEFORE JUNE INFLATION REPORT
Yellen admitted in May this year that she “was wrong then if the path inflation would take.” Powell has also delivered several mea culpas over his wrong path inflation call.
However, the White House continues to assert the strength of the US economy as recently as last week when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed “we are stronger economically than we have been in history.”
A man trades in a Safeway grocery store in Annapolis, Maryland, May 16, 2022, as Americans prepare for summer sticker shocks as inflation continues to grow. ((Photo by JIM WATSON / AFP via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
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The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox New Digital.
Fox News’ Megan Henney contributed to this report
