Count on the Vice President, in Economic Speech Friday, To Blame Business — Not Biden-Harris Policies — for Inflation Woes

Government is never wrong in her book, it’s always business that’s wrong.

AP/Julia Nikhinson
Vice President Harris, with Governor Walz, left, and the UAW president, Shawn Fain, right, on August 8, 2024, at Wayne, Michigan. AP/Julia Nikhinson

Looks like Vice President Harris still hates business. Ms. Harris is expected to give a speech on Friday outlining some kind of economic program, perhaps aiming at the ongoing Biden-Harris virus of high prices. 

You just watch, she’s going to blame business. She always does. 

Earlier in the Biden-Harris administration, when prices started sky-rocketing, they immediately blamed businesses for price gouging, something called “excess profits,” and another thing called “corporate greed.”

And then they told us the problem would be transitory. Well, they were wrong on all counts. 

So they formed a task force, consisting of the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission, the Agriculture Department, and a variety of others — and came up with nothing. 

There was no proof that food businesses were price gouging, or neighborhood gasoline pumps were sneaking in excess prices and profits, or anything. No proof. 

Not the oil companies, not the poultry companies — nobody. 

Then they blamed “junk fees,” which may be a nuisance, but have nothing to do with inflation. 

Then the San Francisco Fed came out with a study that corporate price gouging has not been a primary driver of American inflation. Ouch.

I virtually guarantee, though, that Ms. Harris is going to try and make that price gouging case one more time, because even with her recent flip-flopping on all of her left liberal progressive positions, she — still today — does not like business.

Government is never wrong in her book, it’s always business that’s wrong. 

So, here’s something to consider: even today, the level of consumer prices is up over 20 percent during the 42-month term of Biden-Harris.

Including a 22 percent hike in grocery prices, 22 percent increase in rent, a 32 percent rise in electricity, and a 50 percent increase in gasoline. 

Or, in July alone, the price of fresh fruits and melons jumped 10 percent, beef prices 8 percent, coffee prices over 3 percent.

And real weekly earnings for typical families are down 4 percent — because prices have increased higher than paychecks.

So, the long tail of inflation continues to plague Middle America.

Meanwhile, the budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2024 is expected to hit just south of $2 trillion, nearly 7 percent of GDP.

And this is in peace time, with no national emergencies, and an economy that’s only recently left full employment.  

And the Congressional Budget Office baseline shows $2 trillion deficits as far as the eye can see, with publicly held debt rising to 120 percent of gross domestic product.

Ms. Harris utters not one peep about this insane federal spending that really is the root cause of this particular unfortunate cycle of inflation. Not a peep.

And you won’t hear about it in her speech on Friday either. 

The Bidens’ regulatory attack on business and their constant war against fossil fuels, along with their repeated efforts to raise taxes, have muzzled the productive supply side of the economy that creates goods and services. 

While they’ve thrown a wet blanket over production and work incentives, though, they continue to increase demand through government spending and deficits. 

And, regrettably, the Jay Powell Fed has been a handmaiden to the Biden-Harris spending profligacy. 

Too much money chasing too few goods breeds inflation. 

So, the year-to-year Consumer Price Index has slowed to 2.9 percent for all items, and 3.2 percent excluding food and energy.

That disinflation will not last as long, though, as Democrats continue their free-spending and borrowing ways. 

American businesses didn’t force higher government spending, or borrowing, or regulating, or taxing. 

Those mistakes came from government action. 

And unless that government action is curbed, inflation is likely to flare up again. 

Especially if the wrong crowd is re-elected to the White House.

From Mr. Kudlow’s broadcast on Fox Business Network.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use