Biden downplays implications of high inflation; America faces highest price surge in 40 years

  • 12/12/2021
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US President Joe Biden is facing a problem as the United States has recorded its highest inflation in nearly 40 years. Biden has promised the American people that the inflation will fade back to more normal levels next year, but he is facing difficulty to succeed in his social and environmental spending plan. According to the US Labor Department, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) the prices have increased to 6.8% in November 2021, compared to the prices of October of the year 2020, when it was +6.2%, which is the largest increase recorded in the United States since 1982. The American people have paid dearly for the most important things, such as: food, clothes, cars, fuel, electronic equipment, and traveling tickets. While in the energy sector, it has recorded the highest increase by 33.3%, grocery prices were up 6.2% in November compared to last year, including steak which climbed 25.6%, bread 4%, and fresh fruit 5.8%. The inflation remains high at +4.9% even when excluding the highly volatile energy and food sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a collision in consumer demand, which led to supply chain problems. US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement regarding updated inflation numbers, stating, "This morning’s numbers confirm what every American family already knows: Inflation is out of control on the Democrats’ watch." While he said “6.8% inflation is the worst in almost 40 years. The costs of essentials have skyrocketed. Wages have not even come close to keeping pace, so the average American has gotten a pay cut. It is exactly what experts warned Democrats’ reckless spending would cause." Meanwhile, President Biden has downplayed the implications of high inflation, arguing it had likely reached its peak and would soon begin trending downward. He argued following the November report that “price and cost increase are slowing, although not as quickly as we’d like”. After Friday"s report, Biden again focused on the decline in energy, fuel, natural gas and auto prices, as the November price has increased slightly, rising by 0.8% compared to October, when it reached 0.9%. It is noteworthy that the increase remains higher than analysts" expectations by +0.6%, which indicates the continued inflation. One of the reasons that poses a danger, is that the report was prepared before the emergence of the Omicron, the new COVID-19 mutant, which poses a new threat to the US and global economy. The Biden administration returned with the Federal Reserve and acknowledged that inflation will continue more than it expected, after confirming that the inflation is "temporary" in 2020 due to COVID-19 epidemic. The Biden administration denied the Republican"s accusation that its economic policy of pumping thousands billions of dollars into the economy was the reason that contributed to the inflation. The American people, who have been facing a rise in their cost of living for several months, were upset after the president realized that his plan was more difficult than he expected, after the Consumer Report showed climbing prices last month when he said in a statement that reversing the trend of inflation increasing 0.9% over the past month is a “top priority”. Biden said that gas price at stations has begun to decline at the national level, as it is below the 20 year average in 20 states, and the price of natural gas is down 25% from its November average. Biden explained that the rise in car prices is directly related to the semiconductor crisis, but prices may return to their levels soon, after a number of major car companies reported that they may be able to resume production at its full capacity. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report issued by the US Labor Department was released days before the US Federal Reserve meeting. On Wednesday, Fed officials will issue a policy statement along with new economic projections

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