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For months, Donald Trump and his administration have seemingly turned a deaf ear to economists’ warnings that his tariff policies would ignite inflation like kindling to a bonfire.
In fact, the White House press office has been reveling in every new report that suggested inflation was stable. However, that celebratory mood came to a halt on Tuesday as the June data unveiled an upward shift in inflation rates.
The Consumer Price Index increased by 2.7 percent from the previous year, marking the fastest rise since February, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Tuesday. This figure is slightly above expectations and follows an annual rate of 2.4 percent in May.
Meanwhile, “Core” inflation, which excludes the often erratic food and energy prices and is considered a more stable indicator of underlying price pressures, also climbed. Core prices rose by 2.9 percent compared to last year.
Prices overall surged by 0.3 percent over the month, a significant increase from May’s 0.1 percent rise. Core prices saw a 0.2 percent increase.
It appears that inflation is slowly gnawing at the economy, with Trump’s unilateral tariff decisions acting as the catalyst for this spike.
In response to the inflationary consequences of his tariffs, Trump suggested a course of action that could potentially plunge the economy into further turmoil.
Trump stated, “Very slight, essentially they were exactly as anticipated, very low inflation. So what you should do is lower the rate. The Fed should lower the rate immediately.”
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This demand could exacerbate inflation rather than alleviate it. Such a move would be counterproductive to any efforts aimed at stabilizing prices. It seems Trump’s focus lies not in curbing inflation for the populace but rather in benefiting his own financial interests—lower interest rates would serve him well.
With a mandate to tackle inflation, Donald Trump seems to have lost his way—delusionally attempting to elevate inflation while parading around as if he’s achieved a victory.
What are your thoughts on Trump and the inflation situation? Share your opinions in the comments below.