Biden had a private lunch with Bill Clinton during which the former president urged him to take credit if inflation decreases, report says
Business InsiderDec 26, 2022
The Facts
Gas prices in the US fell below $4 a gallon on Thurs., well below the mid-June peak of $5.02 and retreating to their lowest since March.
Despite this decline, it's still roughly 25% above the $3.18 national average a year ago. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price has fallen for 58 consecutive days.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Pres. Biden has been working hard for months to lower the cost of gas for American consumers, and it has finally paid off. Due to his strategic release of oil from the reserve and advocating for oil companies to lower profits and increase production, prices are starting to return to normal.
Republican narrative
While this is certainly positive news for Americans, we should not let Pres. Biden take credit for the drop in gas prices. Let's not forget he inherited a $2.39 average when he first took office and then blocked the expansion of domestic oil pipelines, so this is surely no thanks to the current administration.
Cynical narrative
Let's not jump the gun; the recent drop in gas prices isn't a sign of a recovering economy, but rather a symptom of yet another potential economic setback: demand destruction, whereby costs are so high that consumers can't afford to keep spending. If we continue on this path, American confidence in the economy will continue to fall, and we could see a permanent decrease in demand, which would have far-reaching implications.
Metaculus Prediction
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