Mayor of Orland Park and Republican congressional candidate Keith Pekau criticized Democrats this month for being dismissive of inflation. | Keith Pekau/Facebook
Mayor of Orland Park and Republican congressional candidate Keith Pekau criticized Democrats this month for being dismissive of inflation. | Keith Pekau/Facebook
This month, Mayor of Orland Park and Congressional candidate Keith Pekau, is levying heavy criticism against Democrats for being dismissive of inflation. He's also raising alarm in warning Americans that they could see a drop in their retirement accounts due to inflation.
Pekau said in a Facebook post, "The White House Press Secretary shrugged off questions about inflation, saying. 'We are stronger economically than we have been in history.' Also, Sean Casten called inflation 'a good thing.' It’s insulting. Americans can see the drop in their 401ks. They know they are paying more for less and that every trip to the gas station or the grocery store costs much more. They know that they are not 'stronger economically than ever.' And they don’t think this is a 'good thing.' In November, voters will have a chance to stop the inflation and the gaslighting. Relief from both is long overdue."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its latest Consumer Price Index summary on Wednesday. The report revealed that the rate of inflation over the last 12 months is 8.5%. Prices for food rose by 10.9%, energy costs by 32.9%, gasoline costs by 44%, new vehicles by 10.4%, and transportation costs by 9.2% in the past year.
U.S. Congressman Sean Casten, Democrat-Illinois, told Fox News in August 2021 that some inflation was actually a good thing.
"There's also, frankly, I think there’s a general consensus among economists that a little bit of inflation would actually be a good thing. Because the Federal Reserve has a mandate to keep interest rates manageable but non-zero and inflation manageable but not excessive," Casten said in the interview.
According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Illinois was $4.357 as of Wednesday, higher than the national average of $4.010 and up from $3.400 a year earlier. Gas prices average $4.826 in Cook County.
Ballotpedia reports that Pekau won the Republican nomination for Illinois 6th Congressional House seat in June. He will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Sean Casten in November.
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