Joe Biden Claims Inflationary Pressure 'Rests With the Federal Reserve,' Praises the Fed's 'Extraordinary Support'

On Wednesday, U.S. president Joe Biden explained that the country’s central bank was dealing with a large share of the inflationary pressures the American economy is dealing with today. Biden welcomes the possibility of tightening monetary easing and noted that he “respects the Fed’s independence.”

US President Joe Biden Says a ‘Critical Job in Making Sure Elevated Prices Don’t Become Entrenched Rests With the Federal Reserve’

Inflationary pressures have been building in the U.S. as consumers are paying far more for goods and services in 2022, and last year’s prices continued to grow worse. American consumers are paying more for housing, rentals, food, raw materials, lumber, and automobiles. Just recently, senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., published a report that said inflation or the “hidden tax” was “only going to get worse.” Furthermore, reports published on Thursday note that U.S. jobless claims have risen significantly to a three-month high.

While inflation rose to 7% last month compared to 2020, over 6% for three months in a row prior, and while retail sales slipped significantly in December 2021, U.S. president Joe Biden thinks most of the pressure is on the American central bank. Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Biden said that Americans “faced some of the biggest challenges that we’ve ever faced in this country these past few years.”

“But we’re getting through it,” Biden added. “And not only are we getting through it — we’re laying the foundation for a future where America wins the 21st century by creating jobs at a record pace, and we need to get inflation under control.” The U.S. president then declared that the coronavirus was to blame for much of the country’s economic issues.

“Covid-19 has created a lot of economic complications, including rapid price increases across the world economy. People see it at the gas pump, the groceries stores, and elsewhere,” Biden stressed. While Americans are seeing the problem first hand, Biden remarked that lots of pressure falls on the U.S. Federal Reserve.

“A critical job in making sure elevated prices don’t become entrenched rests with the Federal Reserve, which has a dual mandate: employment and stable prices,” Biden noted during the press conference.

The American president continued:

The Federal Reserve provided extraordinary support during the crisis for the previous year and a half. Given the strength of our economy and pace of recent price increases, it’s appropriate — as Fed Chairman Powell has indicated — to recalibrate the support that is now necessary. I respect the Fed’s independence.