Consumer prices are down — why can’t Democrats admit it?



The latest inflation report is in — and for the first time in nearly five years, the Consumer Price Index has dropped.

According to data released April 10, gas prices led the decline, falling 6.3% from February to March and nearly 10% year over year. That’s real relief for working families.

It’s easy to claim every success as earned and every failure as someone else’s fault. But that’s not leadership — it’s childishness.

But don’t expect Joe Biden to credit Donald Trump. That would mean acknowledging the obvious: These results aren’t from Biden’s policies — they’re from Trump’s.

Psychologists call it the “locus of control.” People with an internal locus believe they shape their own destiny. People with an external one think they’re at the mercy of circumstance.

Most people pick one or the other. But Democrats? They flip depending on who happens to sit in the Oval Office.

When inflation stayed low under Trump, they called it luck. When inflation hit a 40-year high under Biden, they blamed Vladimir Putin. And landlords. And grocery stores. And payment processors. Anyone but Biden.

That spin didn’t pay the bills — especially in minority communities hit hardest by inflation.

Federal Reserve data shows that black and Hispanic households spend a higher share of income on gas, groceries, and rent than white households. In cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Charlotte, black renters saw double-digit rent hikes between 2021 and 2023.

What did we hear from the White House? Excuses. Deflection. “We’re building back better” — but for whom?

Trump gave us the answer. On day one, he signed executive orders to fast-track energy permits, cut red tape, reopen federal lands for drilling, and establish a new National Energy Council.

The results are clear. Energy prices are dropping. Inflation is cooling. And Americans — at long last — are catching a break.

Biden took the opposite approach. He vowed to “end fossil fuel,” killed the Keystone XL Pipeline, blocked offshore drilling, and even sold oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve — to China.

When energy prices surged, he pointed fingers. Biden blamed the war in Ukraine. But by January 2022 — before the invasion — gas prices were already up 40% year over year, and inflation had hit 7.5%.

The “Putin price hike” was a convenient distraction from Biden’s failed energy agenda.

And the scapegoating didn’t stop there.

When inflation hit every corner of the economy, Attorney General Merrick Garland pointed at Visa, accusing debit card fees of fueling the crisis. The fees in question? Fourteen cents on a $60 purchase.

Never mind that businesses willingly pay those standard fees. If they had a real problem with them, they could easily switch to any number of alternative companies or payment methods.

If Garland wanted real answers, he should have looked at Biden’s regulatory agenda. One study estimates those rules will cost the average family $47,000 over a lifetime.

When rents spiked, Biden and the Justice Department pointed fingers at landlords and pricing algorithms. They ignored the real drivers: millions of illegal immigrants increasing demand and federal mandates that jacked up compliance costs for builders. And the algorithms they blame? Those same tools recommend lower prices when inflation and demand cool down.

As grocery bills climbed, Biden blamed “shrinkflation” and greedy grocers and meatpackers. He ignored the real culprits: trillions in wasteful spending from the American Rescue Plan and the so-called Inflation Reduction Act.

This is the pattern: Jack up costs, then blame someone else. Spin doesn’t fill a gas tank in Jackson or put groceries on the table in Memphis. A press release won’t pay the electric bill in Columbia.

It’s easy to claim every success as earned and every failure as someone else’s fault. But that’s not leadership — it’s childishness. No kindergarten teacher would tolerate it. Voters shouldn’t either.

And they aren’t. Democrats are polling at 29% for a reason.

While the media tracks the stock market, Main Street is what matters. When gas prices jump 60%, hedge fund managers don’t suffer. It’s the single mom in Detroit, the delivery driver in Atlanta, and the grandmother in Baltimore stretching her Social Security check.

This isn’t academic. It’s survival.

Americans are done with excuses. They want results — and President Trump is delivering.

He didn’t just talk tough. He cut gas prices, cooled inflation, and restored energy independence. For communities crushed by elite policy failures, those results aren’t just political. They’re life-changing.

'Economically illiterate': Bezos and others bash Biden for blaming gas stations for high gas prices, Chinese state media applauds the president



President Joe Biden was taken to task over a recent tweet where he blamed gas stations for sky-high fuel prices. While Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was critical of President Biden's latest scapegoat for record gas prices, Chinese state media applauded Biden for realizing "that capitalism is all about exploitation."

President Biden demands gas companies lower prices

Less than two weeks ago, President Biden demanded oil companies lower their gas prices.

"To the companies running gas stations and setting those prices at the pump, this is a time of war, global peril, Ukraine. These are not normal times. Bring down the price you are charging at the pump. Do it now," Biden commanded.

\u201cBiden: "To the companies running gas stations and setting those prices at the pump, this is a time of war, global peril, Ukraine. These are not normal times. Bring down the price you are charging at the pump. Do it now."\u201d
— Greg Price (@Greg Price) 1655921679

President Biden doubled down on his directive for gas companies to lower prices with a tweet on Saturday.

"My message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril," the tweet said. "Bring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you’re paying for the product. And do it now."

\u201cMy message to the companies running gas stations and setting prices at the pump is simple: this is a time of war and global peril. \n\nBring down the price you are charging at the pump to reflect the cost you\u2019re paying for the product. And do it now.\u201d
— President Biden (@President Biden) 1656777600

Gas industry experts tell a different story

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, "Only about 0.1% of the fueling outlets in the country are owned by a major oil company." NACS stated that 62% of U.S. gas stations are owned by an individual or family who only operates a single retail gas location.

NACS also noted that gas stations make a "10- to 15-cent profit" on a gallon of gas.

NBC News reported, "Station owners make most of their profits in their stores, on sales of food and drinks, as well as alcohol where sales are legal."

Twitter Reactions to President Biden blaming gas stations

Commentators quickly called out the president for not taking responsibility for record gas prices while assigning guilt to gas stations, Vladimir Putin, former President Donald Trump, and the COVID pandemic.

Congressional candidate Robby Starbuck:

\u201c@POTUS This is you Joe. \u2b07\ufe0f\u2b07\ufe0f\u2b07\ufe0f\u201d
— President Biden (@President Biden) 1656777600

Entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David: "First the White House blamed Trump. Then COVID. Then Putin. Then Oil companies. Now gas station owners. What’s next, blaming car owners for driving too much?"

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas): "My message to the guy running your teleprompter: It’s YOUR fault. Reverse the dozens of executive orders, regulations & agency actions targeting American energy, and gas prices will fall…FAST."

Journalist Erielle Davidson: "The market sets the price at the pump, not the gas stations. How are you this economically illiterate. How."

"Fox & Friends" host Brian Kilmeade: "Maybe if u met with the oil executives last week instead of the Wind theorists u would know they are not at fault, your policies are- and here’s the best news, you can still change them & help the country."

Novelist Walter Kirn: "I grew up working in gas stations. They aren’t predatory money machines. Can’t afford to be due to intense competition, because there’s usually another one just down the block — whose prices are posted on a big sign for all to see. What silly amateur condescending bulls**t."

Former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai:

\u201cYesterday / today\u201d
— Ajit Pai (@Ajit Pai) 1656785984

Jeff Bezos slams the Biden administration

Bezos – the owner of the Washington Post – denigrated the Biden administration for pointing the finger at energy companies for high gas prices.

"Ouch. Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this," Bezos wrote on Twitter. "It's either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics."

\u201cOuch. Inflation is far too important a problem for the White House to keep making statements like this. It\u2019s either straight ahead misdirection or a deep misunderstanding of basic market dynamics.\u201d
— Jeff Bezos (@Jeff Bezos) 1656812537

Commentators note that Bezos has 'buyer's remorse'

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden simply said, "Buyer's remorse."

Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell bashed Bezos, "Tell this to your own newsroom! YOU are part of the problem. Republicans should never help you….or your work ways."

Columnist Derek Hunter also mocked Bezos, "You should try reading the Washington Post, Jeff. There isn't anyone there who understands or respects how markets work either. Know anyone who could change that?"

Actor Rob Schneider: "When you lose liberal billionaire/Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, you have lost the ideological war. If the Biden administration is out of touch with Billionaires, imagine how the average American worker feels…"

Biden garners support from Chinese state media

Chen Weihua – EU bureau chief of the state-owned China Daily newspaper – wrote on Twitter, "Now US President finally realized that capitalism is all about exploitation. He didn't believe this before."

\u201c@POTUS Now US President finally realized that capitalism is all about exploitation. He didn\u2019t believe this before.\u201d
— President Biden (@President Biden) 1656777600

Biden previous said record gas prices were part of an 'incredible transition'

In May, President Biden proclaimed that record-high gas prices are part of an "incredible transition" that will make America less dependent on fossil fuels.

“When it comes to the gas prices, we’re going through an incredible transition that is taking place that, God willing, when it’s over, we’ll be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels when this is over,” Biden declared during a joint press conference with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.

JPMorgan analysts say you'll be paying $6 per gallon for gas this Summer



As the average price for gasoline reached $6 per gallon in California on Tuesday, analysts at JPMorgan are warning that price could be the norm everywhere in the country by the end of summer.

The national average price of gas is now at a record high of $4.57 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. That number is a 16 cent increase from the average last week, a 48 cent increase over last month, and nearly $1.50 more expensive than the national average last year, which was $3.04. Every state now has an average gas price above $4 per gallon, with Georgia, Kansas, and Oklahoma catching up to the rest of the country as of Tuesday.

Prices are expected to continue to rise as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine disrupts international supply chains while at home, the Biden administration has canceled oil and gas lease sales. With more Americans expected to travel for work or vacation over the summer, a likely increase in demand for gas could push prices up even higher.

"There is a real risk the price could reach $6+ a gallon by August," JPMorgan analyst Natasha Kaneva told CNN on Tuesday. JPMorgan predicts that prices could soar another 37% by August as East Coast gasoline inventories have reached their lowest level since 2011.

U.S. and Canadian oil refineries took a hit during the pandemic, with some closing permanently and others being converted to refine renewable fuels instead of crude oil, CNN reports. The war in Ukraine is exacerbating the problem by heavily restricting the supply of gas available to European countries that have relied on Russia for oil, which has led to increased demand for U.S. and Canadian exports.

The shift in focus to exports has diverted U.S. and Canadian refineries from supplying Eastern U.S. gas stations, according to JPMorgan's analysis.

"If exports persist at this elevated pace and refinery runs -- already near the top range for reasonable utilization rates -- fall within our expectations, gasoline inventories could continue to draw to levels below 2008 lows and retail gasoline prices could climb to $6/gallon or even higher," JPMorgan analysts wrote.

If those assumptions hold, total U.S. gasoline inventories could fall below 160 million barrels by the end of August, which would be the lowest level since the 1950s and would translate to a national average price of $6.20 per gallon of gas.

To avoid that disaster, U.S. refineries need to "immediately" reduce exports and increase gasoline production. If they don't, "US consumers should not expect much in the way of relief in prices at the pump until the end of the year," JPMorgan said.

There are other factors that could keep the price of gasoline from hitting $6, but none of them are good. If the price rises too high too quickly, some consumers will be unwilling to drive as much and that reduced demand could help stabilize prices. Another bad option is economic recession: Reduced job growth would mean fewer people driving to work, which would ease demand for gasoline. Prices could fall, but would that matter if people were losing their jobs?

Government estimates paint a slightly more cheerful picture. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecast in April that the national average retail price will drop to $3.75 per gallon in July and then $3.68 per gallon in September, citing an expected increase in gasoline production from U.S. refineries to "gradually place downward pressure on wholesale gasoline margins and retail prices during the summer."

American households are spending $5,000 a year on gas as prices rise and economic woes worsen



U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $5,000 on gasoline this year.

Yardeni Research concluded that Americans are paying considerably more at the pump this year, CNBC reported. By Yardeni Research’s estimates, Americans were spending a mere $2,800 last year.

The rapid pace at which gas prices continue to increase drastically affects the estimated annual sum Americans are expected to pay. This past March, Americans were expected to pay an estimated $3,800 at the pump in 2022.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) reported that in March the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.22. CNBC noted that the average price for a gallon of gasoline during the week of May 16 was $4.59. A year ago, at this time, a gallon of gasoline was $3.04.

“No wonder the Consumer Sentiment Index is so depressed. The wonder is that retail sales have been so surprisingly strong during April and May,” Yardeni said in a note.

Yardeni stated that the inflation-adjusted incomes of most consumers are barely growing and that they have accumulated a decent amount of savings while charging a lot more on their credit cards.

However, Yardeni indicated that the American consumers’ spending habits are somewhat counterintuitive, which might give the economy an illusion of strength.

Yardeni stated, “When we are happy, we spend money. When we are depressed, we spend even more money!”

For instance, despite the Consumer Price Index surging by 8.3% in April and a massive technology stock sell-off, retail sales rose by 8.2%.

Gasoline sales actually declined in April from March, as prices temporarily fell before ramping up to record levels in early May. Spending on gasoline in April increased by nearly 37% from a year ago, according to data from the Department of Commerce.

Not only are Americans paying more for necessary products, like gasoline, but their earnings in real wages are falling rapidly.

As inflation continues to spiral out of control, the average hourly earnings for employees on private nonfarm payrolls cannot keep up. These payrolls rose by only 0.3% in April, which was far lower than what was expected by economists.

This 0.3% growth was also far below April’s inflationary increase of 8.3% and March’s 8.5% increase.

According to this data, the real earnings of the American people appear to be falling by multiple percentage points.

Economic experts expect similar economic woes to continue occurring throughout the world as global stock markets continue to hemorrhage money.