The White House took a victory lap this week for allegedly “lowering costs” for American families preparing for Thanksgiving this year, while ignoring price increases that have hurt consumers since the election of President Biden in 2020.
“This Thanksgiving, we have a lot to be thankful for. While inflation caused by the Russian pandemic and war continues to be a challenge, we have seen important progress,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Monday press briefing where she displayed a hypothetical Thanksgiving menu to make the point.
Jean-Pierre highlighted that gas prices have dropped $1.70 from their peak in June 2022, while airline ticket prices have dropped 13% from this time last year, while car rental prices have fallen about 10%.
The press secretary also noted that inflation in retail prices has declined to its lowest level in more than two years, with the cost of staples such as eggs, milk, meat and fresh vegetables lower on average than in 2022.
The White House took credit for “lowering costs” for American families preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, while ignoring rising costs that have hit consumers since 2020. AFP via Getty Images “Lowering costs for Americans continues to be the president’s top economic priority,” Jean-Pierre said.AFP via Getty Images
Jean-Pierre also cited an American Farm Bureau Federation report that found a “classic Thanksgiving meal for 10” in 2023 to cost $61.17, “a 4.5% decrease from last year’s historic high,” with lower turkey prices accounting for most of that price reduction.
“Lowering costs for the American people continues to be the president’s top economic priority,” Jean-Pierre said.
But AFBF data also shows that Thanksgiving prices have risen 30% since 2020, with the classic meal costing $46.90 during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Farm Bureau Federation data shows that Thanksgiving prices have risen 30% since 2020, with the classic dish costing $46.90 during the first year of the coronavirus outbreak.Getty Images
The Republican National Committee in a statement Monday calling it a “price shock” also drew attention to AFBF’s findings of a 25% increase in the traditional Thanksgiving meal since 2019.
The RNC also pointed out it was “the second most expensive Thanksgiving in the survey’s 38-year history.”
The Biden campaign too posted on X clip CNBC anchor Sara Eisen reported that if gas prices hit “$3.25 by Thursday, that would be the cheapest Thanksgiving gas price since 2020,” when prices hit $2.11, according to Gas Buddy.
Biden celebrated inflation falling to 3%, “the lowest among the world’s leading economies,” in an August speech on health care costs at the White House. WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Under President Donald Trump, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged American families to avoid travel that year for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is at home with your family members,” said Erin Sauber-Schatz, who led the Community Intervention and Critical Populations Task Force at the time.
Jean-Pierre during Monday’s briefing also celebrated wage increases under Biden that would make the Thanksgiving meal “the fourth cheapest ever as a percentage of average income.”
Jean-Pierre in Monday’s briefing also celebrated wage increases under President Biden that would make the Thanksgiving meal “the fourth cheapest as a percentage of average income.”Getty Images
Biden, 81, celebrated inflation falling to 3%, “the lowest among the world’s leading economies,” in an August speech on health care costs at the White House — despite overseeing a 40-year high in 2022.
However, hourly wages have risen about 13% while inflation has risen 17% since the start of Biden’s term, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Congressional Republicans have repeatedly stated that real wages have declined nearly 4% since January 2021 due to inflation caused largely by trillions in federal spending.
“Americans’ average wages have fallen behind inflation,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said in a Nov. 7 speech on the Senate floor.
Hourly wages have risen about 13% while inflation has risen 17% since the start of Biden’s term, according to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.Getty Images
“[I]If you take all the average wage increases in the United States, and you look at the average inflation in the United States, workers have actually lost ground,” he said.
“Workers today — in November 2023 — actually produce less an hour, after inflation, than in February 2021.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
