By Congressman Joe Wilson
November 30, 2023
The Biden administration continues to push policies that hurt American families and destroy jobs. These poor decisions affect Americans close to home as we enter the holiday season of Christmas and Hanukkah. Under Biden, the country just experienced the second-most expensive Thanksgiving ever recorded.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, since Biden took office hourly wages have increased roughly 13% while inflation has shot up 17%, reducing the spending power of Americans by nearly $8,400 annually. Families are paying more than $700 per month to buy the same goods and services they did just two years ago, according to the chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.
Under Biden, prices for the same Thanksgiving dinner were 25% higher in 2023 than they were in 2019. However, Biden told American families to be grateful that the costs associated with Thanksgiving decreased this year, conveniently leaving out that prices were still at record highs compared to when he took office.
Falsely interpreting “a 4.5% decline from historically high prices last year” Biden ignores the damage of the still inflated costs being pushed on American families.
While some items like turkey did experience small price reductions from last year’s record highs, it was not enough to restore the spending power of individuals. Items such as pumpkin pie mix and dinner rolls have increased in price this year by four and three percent respectively, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation Report.
That very report cited by the Biden administration ends by reminding readers that, “Although survey prices have begun to come down, food price inflation remains a real issue and serves as a constraint on the budget of all U.S. consumers.”
Accelerating all costs in Biden’s mindless war on fossil fuels has resulted in gas up at least $1.20 per gallon since Biden, pushing dependency on Chinese batteries.
Thanksgiving was not the first holiday effected by Bidenflation this year as the cost of Halloween candy was up an average of 13% from a year ago according to Datasembly, a retail price tracker. Even Easter this year was more expensive than last year with prices for Easter eggs up 55 percent according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
As December rolls around the corner Americans are facing another spending hit. The PNC Christmas Price Index has already calculated that the total Christmas Price Index for 2023 is 2.7% higher than last year. The most volatile increase coming from the cost of two turtle doves increasing 25% from last year. While the lavish gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” are an extreme example, the inflation in gift giving closely matches prices consumers will face as they do their holiday shopping.
No matter what frugal gifts shoppers buy this season, the cost of giving the gifts will be more expensive, as the November Consumer Price Index shows gift wrap facing six percent inflation in 2023.
My Republican colleagues and I have achieved significant wins on behalf of American families including, eliminating the military vaccine mandate, passing the largest deficit reduction package in American history, passing the Secure the Border Act to address chaos at the border, passing the Parents’ Bill of Rights, and passing the Lower Energy Costs Act, just to name a few.
I am grateful for the leadership of the new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson from Louisiana. Having served closely with him on the Republican Study Committee I know of his competence and capabilities and look forward to working closely with him to lead America out of Biden’s irresponsible spending.
The work is not done yet, but on behalf of American families, I am grateful to join House Republicans in the fight to tackle inflation and lower the cost of living, defend our national security, and restore the voice of the American people, as we promote limited government with expanded freedom.
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of South Carolina’s Second District.
Joe Wilson is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives serving South Carolina’s 2nd District.
