Who Owns the Price Hike? Both Parties Point Fingers as Inflation Hits 3.7%
A Democrat blames Trump's war and tariffs; a White House official calls it temporary; Vance blames Biden and Iran.
This is a commentary item. It summarizes what officials said about the latest inflation numbers and where those claims run into the data.
After the September report showed prices up 3.7% over the year, the political blame game started within hours. Representative Brendan Boyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat, blamed President Trump's Iran war and tariffs for rising costs, saying Trump had promised to lower costs quickly. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the energy-driven surge is temporary and pointed to a 1.2% drop in prescription drug prices. Vice President JD Vance, at a Michigan town hall, blamed the Biden administration and Iran for high gas prices.
What the data say: gasoline is up 34.2% over the year and drove more than half of September's monthly increase, which fits the argument that the war is the main cause. But core inflation, which excludes food and energy, also rose to 2.6% from 2.4%, and Fed officials such as Cleveland's Beth Hammack cited tariffs, AI investment, and services prices in addition to energy. Wages rose 3%, so paychecks have fallen behind prices for three months.
Our take: voters are not asking whose fault it is; they are asking when it ends. A fair reading is that the war is the biggest driver, that tariffs and spending add to the pressure, and that no party owns a clean answer. Conservatives have a strong case that energy policy at home, which limits U.S. production and refining, leaves the country exposed to events overseas; critics will point to the administration's own decision to fight the war.
Both sides are making claims that are partly right, and both are leaving out half of the picture. We will keep reporting the numbers and let readers judge.
- Spokesman-Review: Energy, gas costs push inflation higher. Paychecks are lagging behind
- Fox News live blog: Midterm elections 2026, Oct. 18
Facts above are attributed to the linked reporting. Statements in a source's own opinion section are labeled as commentary. We correct errors promptly.
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