CNN Host Challenges Trump’s Food Price Claims: ‘Numbers Don’t Lie’

Abby Phillip, a host at CNN, recently took issue with former President Donald Trump’s claims regarding food prices. During a segment, Trump stated that his administration had significantly reduced grocery costs and blamed the media and President Joe Biden for any negative perceptions. Phillip refuted these assertions, emphasizing the factual data contrary to Trump’s statements.

CNN Host Challenges Trump’s Food Price Claims

Trump claimed, “We did a great job on groceries and affordability,” suggesting that the media was misleading the public about food prices increasing under his predecessor. However, Phillip highlighted that these claims do not align with official statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Official Data Contradicts Trump’s Claims

• Food costs have risen since Trump’s inauguration.
• Compared to last September, food prices increased by 2.7%.
• Coffee prices surged by 18.9%.
• Beef prices climbed by 14.7%.
• The combined cost for meat, poultry, fish, and eggs is up by 5.2%.

Phillip noted that the only item Trump acknowledged increasing in cost was beef. Furthermore, he called for an investigation into meatpacking companies for alleged price manipulation.

Public Perception on Food Prices

Amid rising prices, a recent CBS News/YouGov poll found that 62% of Americans believe the cost of food is increasing, while a mere 7% think it is decreasing. This survey involved 2,124 U.S. adults and highlights growing concerns about affordability.

Economic Indicators Raise Concerns

Trump attributed economic concerns largely to inflation. However, Phillip pointed out that layoffs in the U.S. recently surged to their highest level in two decades. Over 150,000 job cuts occurred in October alone, driven in part by companies increasing their use of artificial intelligence.

Moreover, Phillip indicated a trend of job losses totaling approximately one million for the year, which represents a 65% increase year-over-year. This economic situation has prompted many Americans to reconsider their spending habits.

In the face of these challenges, it seems the public sentiment about the economy is increasingly negative as affordability remains a pressing issue for many households across the nation.