Peach Tree Times

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently revealed that rising gas prices have contributed to an increase in inflation rates for February. This trend has led a significant portion of Georgia's electorate to attribute the economic situation to President Biden's policies.

According to the BLS' latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the overall CPI experienced a 3.2 percent rise from February 2023 to February 2024. The BLS points out that the gasoline index, along with the shelter index, "contributed over sixty percent of the monthly increase in the index for all items."

The BLS also notes that after witnessing a decrease over the previous four months, the gasoline index saw an increase of 3.8 percent from January to February 2024.

In relation to regional trends, the BLS reports that in the South Atlantic division of the South region, which includes Georgia, there was a notable rise in CPI. The overall CPI increased by 3.9 percent from February 2023 to February 2024 and by 1 percent over the month ending February 2024. This increase surpassed national trends. Additionally, from January to February 2024, the gasoline index in this region rose by 5.5 percent, again exceeding the national average for that period.

A poll conducted by League of American Workers (LAW) in January 2024 revealed that a majority —51 percent—of likely Georgia voters held President Joe Biden's policies responsible for higher gas prices.

This research was commissioned by LAW and carried out by North Star Opinion Research. LAW is an organization committed to scrutinizing economic public policies affecting American workers.