Social media users react to House Speaker Johnson blaming grocery prices on Biden

LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS)—Speaker of the House Mike Johnson took to social media to blame inflation on President Joe Biden's "out-of-control spending," and the public responded.

His post was attached to a Wall Street Journal article explaining how economists predicted a 3.2% consumer price index (CPI), which measures the change in prices paid by all consumers for goods and services.

Notably, the article highlights that 'inflation is being stubborn.' The index rose for gasoline in February, while it has remained unchanged for food since January. The Federal Reserve's goal is 2%, and it states that it 'will cut rates later this year.'

Speaker Mike Johnson posted: "President Biden's reckless, out-of-control spending has fueled rising inflation. For the second straight month in 2024, basic necessities like food and energy costs have risen. Bidemonics continues to fail, hurting hard working Americans.'

The WSJ cites The Groundwork Collaboration report: "While prices overall have risen by 19 percent in the last three years, families are now paying 25 percent more for groceries than they were before the pandemic."

Further underscoring, "The Biden administration has taken critical steps to increase food assistance for these families and offset this financial burden. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program) provides cash-like benefits to roughly 42 million low-income Americans to supplement their grocery budget."

Here are the top comments:

Groundwork Collaborative found that, on average, the typical family that relies on SNAP has seen their benefits increase in the Biden administration significantly faster than grocery prices have risen.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights two main categories: "food-at-home" (grocery store/supermarket food purchases) and "food-away-from-home" (restaurant purchases).

Noting three of the six major grocery store food groups' indexes decreased over the month.

• Dairy and related products decreased 0.6 percent in February, led by a 1.1% decline in the index for cheese and related products.
• Fruits and vegetables index decreased 0.2% over the month,
• As did the nonalcoholic beverages.
• Cereals and bakery products rose 0.5% in February, following a 0.2% decrease in January.
• The meats, poultry, fish, and eggs index also increased over the month, rising 0.1%.

According to the National Retail Federation, the top nine U.S. supermarkets with the highest profits include seven in the region: Walmart, Kroger, Brookshire's, Target, Albertsons, Aldi, and Super One.