Food inflation is still a major drag on voter approval of the Biden economy ahead of November.
President Joe Biden is weighing how hard to hammer big food companies over painfully high grocery prices in his upcoming State of the Union Address. But some some aides remain wary of focusing too much on food inflation, given how little power the president has to singlehandedly force down prices.
Biden embraced the concept of “shrinkflation” in a Super Bowl message targeting major snack food corporations — as the president framed it, there are now “fewer chips” in your bag, while companies are “still charging you just as much.”
And the White House has been aggressively testing out the messaging on the airwaves and in internal polling ahead of Biden’s speech, according to two White House officials familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to speak on the issue and were granted anonymity to discuss internal conversations. Recent polling circulated within the White House has been favorable to Biden’s push to blast what he’s described on the campaign trail as “corporate greed” driving higher prices across a range of sectors.
Around 2004 I could fill a standard grocery cart for around $100, just yesterday I barely needed 2 paper bags to carry what I purchased and it was $90. I don't understand how anyone with rent or a mortgage can afford to live anymore.
I don't understand how anyone with rent or a mortgage can afford to live anymore.
You ever see that art installation of the robot which is leaking oil, but continuously tries to squeegee the oil back in until it eventually shuts down?
Assuming it isn't a different piece I haven't heard of, it's called "Can't Help Myself" and it isn't squeegeeing it's own oil or hydraulic fluid back. It was shut down by the artists (though it would have stalled out on its own at some point it was definitely wearing down).
This type of fake inflation is driven by those in the 1-0.1%. No stopping it doesn't treat the underlying problem but treating symptoms is still better than nothing.
It's performative, designed to lull voters into a sense that he is addressing their concerns and fighting for them when in reality he's picked the lowest hanging, least effort fruit to tackle when he could be addressing the actual issue.
It's dangerous, because people go "Oh look he's trying to fix things" yet things continue to get worse because those root causes are not being looked at, leading to disillusionment with the Democrats and that only benefits Republicans.
Recent polling circulated within the White House has been favorable to Biden’s push to blast what he’s described on the campaign trail as “corporate greed” driving higher prices across a range of sectors.
Finally. Hopefully he brings more than finger wagging.
Sweet jeebers, is Biden really dumb enough to use the State of the Union Address — biggest Presidential bully pulpit in an election year — to complain about shrinkflation?
"Shrinkflation" seems a little esoteric to be a main point, but everyone gets "corporate greed". I assume they're message testing is either going to figure that out or contradict my assumption though.