Inflation Just Soared to a Brand-New 30-Year High

Another measure of inflation has hit a 30-year high as some say White House policies continue to hurt the economy.

Data emerged Friday showing that the personal consumption expenditures price index rose at an annual rate of 4.4 percent in September, the fastest pace of inflation since January 1991, according to CNBC.

Even without soaring food and energy costs, year-over-year inflation hit the highest rate since May 1991 at 3.6 percent.

As prices went up, personal income declined 1 percent in September.

“The original sin was an oversized American Rescue Plan. It contributed to both higher output but also higher prices,” said Jason Furman, who led the White House Council of Economic Advisers under former President Barack Obama, according to The New York Times.

Since then inflation has been “everywhere,” Republican Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas said. “You can’t live your life without seeing your paycheck buy less.”

The new Commerce Department figures showed energy costs up 24.9 percent since last year, with the price of goods up 5.9 percent, prices for services up 6.4 percent and the price of food up 4.1 percent.

It had been an article of faith in the Biden White House that the inflation was a side effect of the economy restarting and would settle down soon.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who this week said inflation would remain high through mid-2022, tried to pitch sunshine despite Friday’s bleak report.

“Year-over-year inflation remains high and will for some time simply because of what’s already happened in the first months of the year,” Yellen said. “But monthly rates I believe will come down in the second half of the year. I think we’ll see a return to levels close to 2 percent.”