Peach Tree Times

Georgia congressional candidate Blake Harbin (R) criticized Pres. Joe Biden for failing to come up with a solution to historic levels of inflation.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) summary on Wednesday. The data showed that in April, prices increased by 8.3% over the last 12-month period. Costs rose by 0.3% in April this year after increasing by 1.2% in March. Food prices rose by 0.9% in April. Food costs have increased by 9.4% in the last 12 months, representing the largest rise in prices since 1982. In the last 12 months, the price of new vehicles rose by 13.2% while the price of used vehicles rose by 22.7%.

"Inflation hit 8.3% in April, higher than predicted and still near a 40-year high," Harbin said in a Twitter post. "Biden’s only solutions are blaming others and spending more money. We need to stop this insanity, and it starts here in #GA06 by electing a conservative with small business experience."

The average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Georgia was $3.93 as of May 11, according to AAA, up from $2.87 one year ago. Diesel averages $5.17 per gallon, up from $3.01 one year ago. Gas prices are over $4 per gallon in several counties, including Bleckley, Bryan, Chattahoochee, Clay, Emanuel, and Fulton.

"[Biden's] policies caused inflation — a tax on every working American. I have the small business experience to put a stop to it," Harbin said on Twitter.

The candidate will face multiple GOP challengers in the May 24 primary election for Georgia's 6th Congressional District, including Byron Gatewood, Rich McCormick, and Mallory Staples, according to Ballotpedia. The general election will occur on Nov. 8.