More lies are being pushed for Kamala Harris than the actual truth at this point.
In a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made a statement that has been met with significant skepticism. Jean-Pierre asserted that grocery prices have “come down” recently, a claim that seems at odds with the data. According to federal statistics, grocery prices have actually surged by 21.1% since President Biden’s administration began in 2021. Moreover, there has been a consistent rise of 1.1% over the past year alone.
When asked whether President Biden agrees with Vice President Kamala Harris’s assertion on the campaign trail that grocery prices are being inflated by price gouging, Jean-Pierre responded affirmatively. She went on to say, “To be as clear as possible, we have seen food prices decrease over the last year or more, and that is important. A lot of that is thanks to this administration.”
However, data from the Labor Department contradicts this statement. Although the rate of increase in grocery prices may have slowed, they have not decreased overall. In response to the backlash, a White House official later clarified that Jean-Pierre was referring to a decrease in the rate of grocery price inflation, which now stands at 1.1%.
The inaccurate claim quickly drew criticism. The RNC research account tweeted, “Karine Jean-Pierre keeps proving why she’s the least competent press secretary in American history.”
Vice President Harris has also been active in the debate on grocery prices. She recently released an ad promoting her plan to make groceries more affordable by targeting alleged price gouging. Last month, she proposed implementing price controls on groceries, a move that has faced substantial criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Notably, even the Washington Post, generally supportive of Democrats, has voiced disapproval. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has used Harris’s plan to criticize her, branding it as a “communist” approach and likening it to Venezuela’s failed economic policies under Nicolás Maduro.
Trump has been vocal about inflation, particularly the rising cost of groceries, arguing that Biden’s policies have caused food prices to soar by 50-70% in recent years. The food industry, through representatives like Andy Harig from FMI, has challenged Harris’s claims, attributing higher grocery prices to broader inflationary pressures rather than price gouging. “While we understand the frustration with high prices, attributing it solely to price gouging oversimplifies the issue,” Harig explained.
As the election approaches, it’s clear that inflation and grocery prices will continue to be a focal point of political debate.
