ATL Standard

A recent NBC News poll sought to survey Americans' opinions on economical issues and political leaders of the United States. When asked, "Who or what do you blame the MOST for the rising cost of goods and services or inflation?" 38% of respondents said they blame President Joe Biden and his policies. 

Among other results, 28% of respondents blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, 23% blamed corporations for increasing prices and 6% blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Mr. President: You can't spend America out of an inflation crisis,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) wrote in a recent tweet.

Of the 38% of Americans who blame Biden, 37% identify with the poor/working class, 39% identify with the middle class and 39% identify with the upper class.

The poll, surveying 1,000 adults, was conducted from March 18-22 in conjunction with Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies. Of the participants, 790 were registered voters.

This comes as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the consumer price index (CPI) data last month for the 12 months ending in February 2022. The data showed a 7.9% annual increase, marking a 40-year high.

Among results, CPI data showed that increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter and food were the largest contributors to the seasonally adjusted "all items" increase. The gasoline index rose 6.6% in February and accounted for approximately one-third of the "all items" monthly increase. The index for fruits and vegetables had the largest increase, rising 2.3%, representing its largest monthly increase since March 2010.

This comes as inflation has been on the rise for six months, well before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

On March 14, Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin and the COVID-19 pandemic are to blame for record-high inflation in the United States, according to Fox News. He also maintained that rising prices have "nothing to do" with his administration’s policies. 

"Make no mistake, inflation is largely the fault of Putin,” Biden said at that time.

According to the BLS, Atlanta's annual inflation climbed to double digits and exceeded the national inflation high of 7.9%. The metro area’s February consumer price index, calculated from a collection of goods and services that typically dominate household spending, was 10.6% higher than a year earlier.