Fact check: Are Democrats to blame for rising beer prices?
In a recent tweet, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican seeking a third term in November 2022, included this statement: "Thanks to failed Dem policies, beer is 9.1% more expensive." PolitiFact checks his claim.
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Inflation is a big topic for the U.S. — and the world — as the prices of goods and services across the economy keep rising.
In a recent tweet, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican seeking a third term in November 2022, included this statement:
"Thanks to failed Dem policies, beer is 9.1% more expensive."
To which those of us in Brew City can say only: Whoa.
Have beer prices jumped that much? And is it really Democratic policies that have caused any increase?
Let’s take a look.
Beer prices have been steadily rising since the 1990s
According to the data, the average cost of 16 ounces of beer has gone from $1.50 in April 2020 to $1.66 in June 2022, which amounts to a 10.7% increase in the retail price.
But there are important things to note.
First, in April 2020, Republican Donald Trump was president — so, as a basic, practical matter, the blame would have to be shared.
What’s more, the price of beer has been steadily rising since 1996, the bureau’s statistics show. There have been ups and downs along the way, but since late 2019, prices have started to increase a little more drastically.
So, Johnson has accurate numbers, but even within the time frame he uses, he is shifting the blame in a single direction.
Let’s look deeper at the blame portion of the claim, in which Johnson maintains policies enacted by Democrats have been the root cause of inflation — driving up the cost of goods such as eggs, milk and beer.
The article cites a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, but even that headline says only that Biden policies "helped fuel" inflation.
That upheaval in the economy caused supply chain shortages, created labor issues and changed spending habits for people forced to remain home.
In any case, on claims like these — ones targeting Democrats or Republicans — we have long held that blame (or credit) for what happens in a complicated world economy can’t be attributed solely to a single person or event.
PolitiFact ruling
Johnson claimed in a tweet that the price of beer has risen 9.1% because of Democratic policies enacted in the U.S.
While the price of beer did rise 10.7% starting in April 2020, some of that increase came on Trump’s watch — and prices have been steadily rising since the late 1990s.
And although policies enacted by Democrats, such as the American Rescue Plan, have played a role in inflation, there are many other factors that are influencing the rising costs of goods and services, such as the fallout from the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, changes in the labor market and rising energy costs.
We rate this claim Half True, meaning it’s partially accurate, but leaves out important details or takes things out of context.
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