Cost of Living is More Than Reported

Floor Speech

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Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is directed to the press as much as to the Chair and whoever is listening at home.

Everybody knows we have a lot of inflation. We are supposed to repeat again and again that inflation was at 8.6 percent in May, which is the highest it has been in 40 years. The press should report that there is no way inflation is only 8.6 percent.

Housing is listed as going up 5.5 percent. Have you talked to any landlords? Have you talked to any builders? There is a contorted way that you arrive at that 5.5 percent. That number should be more like 15 to 20 to 25 percent.

Talk to some car dealers. See if they think the cost of used cars has gone up only 16.1 percent in the last year. That number should be 30 percent.

We should not let the administration get away with such low numbers. I call upon the American press to do a little bit of research for once and tell us what the real cost of living has gone up in this country over the last year. It is way more than 8.6 percent.

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