Note to Reporters: Americans Are Better Off Even After Inflation

Washington Monthly ^ | February 23, 2022 | Robert Shapiro

[artichokegrower]

Conventional wisdom-mongers such as GOP leaders and Trumpist commentators are eager to throw shade on an economic boom under a Democratic president and Congress. And many people who feel the sticker shock when they fill their gas tanks these days believe it too, especially since many nonpolitical media didn’t check the data before pushing the meme..

Excuse me I was just getting over the shock of paying $120 to fill up my pickup

[Pxzftrnqfrn]

"If people are poorer, why did household spending jump by 8.8 percent in 2021"

Because they got free Covid money. A job lasts longer. When all those Covid buys are not repeated, because the money is cut off....there will be a crash.

[JoSixChip]

the economy grew by 5.7 percent after inflation.

That is flat out a lie.

[BenLurkin]

I’m guessing the writer doesn’t rememeber the 1970s inflation. That might explain why he doesn’t have a clue.

[Dead Corpse]

If you dig yourself into an economic hole out of panic and stupidity, climbing only half way out again is not exactly a thing to be proud of.

This is literally the government breaking your leg, giving you crutches, and telling you to be grateful because you can still walk...

[wny]

there is no limit to the stupidity these whores will employ to defend the demholes

[Tell It Right]

One reason spending increased in 2021 is because a lot of people who had money held off on making big money decisions during 2020. It was wise to wait until the dust settles.

So talking about spending increasing in 2021 compared to 2020 is like saying you're an awesome football team if your record was better than Vanderbilt's. LOL

[newzjunkey]

They got those child tax credits checks. 300+ per child per month. That adds up across millions of children. Plus they got bonus ebt benefits. I got nothing except to pay for it, and feel the pinch of inflation

[HandBasketHell]

They can manipulate the headlines all they want.

Everyone who drives to work is buying gas today.

Everyone who rents must pay it this month.

Everyone who eats must buy food.

No amount of headlines telling you how great things are is going to change your reality that you must live every day.

[1Old Pro]

The writer is an idiot Dem sycophant with a keyboard.

[Skwor]

Ramblings of a sycophant.

Basically who are you going to believe stuff, “your lying eyes or me?”

Everyone can see it, no amount of rambling rhetoric empty of reality will change that.

[Joe Brower]

[Leaning Right]

My last heating bill was almost double that of a year ago. But hey, somebody somewhere manipulated some data to make things look great.

So I guess everything is okay after all.

[dfwgator]

"Inflation is our friend! Wouldn't you like to own a $4,000 suit, and smoke a $75 cigar, drive a $600,000 car? I know I would! "

[joethedrummer]

Funny…

Remember that 1992 was “..the WORST economy in the last FIFTY years!!”?

That was a sniffle; today we have pneumonia.

[Republican Wildcat]

If things cost more they also had no choice but to spend more.

[Republican Wildcat]

It was actually a growing, increasingly healthy economy after coming out of a mild recession that was long over by the time of that election.

But, media narratives, etc. prevailed.

[KarlInOhio]

If people are poorer, why did household spending jump by 8.8 percent in 2021, after inflation,

Spend the cash now or burn it to heat your house next winter. It's the beginning of a classic hyperinflation spiral where no one wants to keep dollars but would rather have goods at any price.

[VTenigma]

Bob, you are a moron or a democrat, but I repeat.

[libertylover]

This is literally the government breaking your leg, giving you crutches, and telling you to be grateful because you can still walk...

I wouldn't say it's literally that but it's a great analogy, nonetheless.