North Raleigh Today

Americans from all economic classes say President Joe Biden and his policies are to blame for the country's inflation, according to a recent NBC News poll that sought to solicit Americans' opinions on economical issues and political leaders of the United States.

When asked, "Who or what do you blame the MOST for the rising cost of goods and services, or inflation?", results had 38% of voters saying the blame most rests on Biden’s shoulders, while 28% said the pandemic is more of a cause, followed by 23% who blamed corporations for increasing prices, and 6% who cited Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

When it comes to how policies are to blame, Kevin McCarthy, minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, put it succinctly when he tweeted: "Mr. President: You can't spend America out of an inflation crisis.” 

The results were split among people from all walks of life. Of the Americans who blame Biden, 37% identify with the poor/working class, 39% identify with the middle class, and 39% identify with the upper class. The poll was conducted March 18-22 in conjunction with Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies. It surveyed 1,000 adults, 790 of whom were registered voters. 

On March 10, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the 12 months ending in February 2022. The data showed a 7.9% annual increase, a 40-year high. 

CPI data showed that increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food were the largest contributors to the seasonally adjusted "all items" increase. The gasoline index rose 6.6% in February and accounted for approximately one-third of the "all items" monthly increase. The index for fruits and vegetables had the largest increase, rising 2.3%, representing its largest monthly increase since March 2010. 

On March 14, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin and the COVID-19 pandemic are to blame for record-high inflation in the United States. He also maintained that rising prices have "nothing to do" with his administration’s policies. "Make no mistake, inflation is largely the fault of Putin,” he said, as reported by foxnews.com. The trend counters that assessment, as inflation has been rising for six months, starting well before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

BLS numbers show prices in the South Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), advanced 1.1% in February. Over the last 12 months, the CPI-U rose 8.4%. Food prices increased 7.4% and energy prices jumped 26.2%.