Elon Musk lays out the ‘real reason’ why inflation is out of control
Fed up with the skyrocketing cost of living? Take it up with the federal government, says billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
In a thread on his X social media platform, Musk wrote, “The rise in prices (inflation} is caused by government spending, which increases the amount of money faster than the increase in goods and services output.”
Musk said inflation was especially bad during the pandemic because the government injected trillions of dollars into the economy “despite productivity plunging, as more people were forced to stay home.”
Musk's remarks are a response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ pledge to bring inflation down by tackling corporate greed and price gouging. That rarely leads to inflation, he said.
“Occasionally, there is monopolistic behavior by companies, but this is relatively rare and usually only possible if those companies have gained control of their industry regulator,” Musk explained.
“Again, a government, not private sector, problem.”
Inflation is a thorny subject in post-pandemic America. Although inflation growth has nearly come down to target, Americans are still left holding the bag for all cost increases since Covid.
CPI masks a bigger problem
The government’s most trusted inflation indicators show that consumer prices are growing at a much slower rate than in 2022.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3% annually in June, marking the slowest growth rate in more than three years.
The core Personal Consumption Expenditures Index—a measure preferred by the Federal Reserve—fell to a 2.6% annual rate in May and June, a more than three-year low.
Despite the apparent progress on inflation, Americans are still living with the cumulative effects of rising prices.
According to an analysis of government data conducted by Bankrate, the cumulative inflation rate since February 2020 is 20.8%. This is well above the historic average and exceeds the cumulative inflation rate of the entire 2010s.
So, while headline inflation may be cooling, prices remain very high. For this reason, more households are struggling to afford basic necessities such as rent, auto insurance, and even groceries.
A recent Wealth Watch survey conducted by New York Life found that 61% of Americans reported spending more on groceries and dining out compared to a year earlier.
More than half (56%) said they’re spending more on utilities compared to a year earlier.
“From filling up a tank of gas to making a rental payment to buying groceries, most consumers are paying more today for everyday expenses than they ever have,” said Charlie Wise, TransUnion’s senior vice president and head of research.
Worse, swapping for cheaper products to save money is no longer a sure bet.
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the prices of cheaper goods have grown between 1.3 times and 1.9 times faster than more expensive items.