The consumer price index for October officially rose 6.2% over last October, its biggest increase since 1990. Worse, it was up 0.9% over the preceding month, indicating that the rate of increase is also increasing. Energy, shelter, food, and vehicle costs led the way—four categories hard for people to miss.
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) said that the record inflation is not “’transitory’ and is instead getting worse…. Americans know the inflation tax is real, and DC can no longer ignore the economic pain Americans feel every day.” Kevin Brady (R-TX), the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, added: “No wonder Americans now rank inflation alongside Covid as their biggest concerns – and believe Biden’s $4 trillion tax-and-spending binge will only make prices worse.” CNN ran a poll to send a message to Biden, showing that 58% of people think that Biden has not paid sufficient attention to the nation’s problems. The issue most cited as cause for concern was the economy, 36%, significantly surpassing the second-place pandemic at 20%.
