Upper Bucks Today

A Republican committeewoman and Judge of Elections in the Borough of Sellersville said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey's (D-Pa.) policies makes her feel "like a salmon swimming upstream" to keep up with rising prices.

“As a single mother, I feel like a salmon swimming upstream trying to keep up with prices tripling under Casey," Liz Diehl, 59 years old and mother of two daughters, told Upper Bucks Today. "Just trying to do the basics like having a roof over my kids' head, putting food on the table and having heat in my home have become a real challenge."

"All while we send billions to Ukraine and bring illegals over the border and hand them cash incentives paid for by taxpayers," said Diehl. "Casey has got to go! The only change that we will have in this country under Casey will be the change you find in your couch."

Diehl's comments are in response to U.S. Sen. candidate Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) saying families are getting "robbed" due to rising costs caused by the policies of Casey and Vice President Kamala Harris (D).

"Hard-working American families are getting robbed by rising costs thanks to Bob Casey and Kamala Harris ramming through trillions in reckless government spending," McCormick posted on X. "Casey’s weakness is hurting families—and it’s unfair."

As of August 2024, Pennsylvania experienced an 18.9% increase in prices of goods and services since January 2021, below the national average of 20.3%, according to the latest data from the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee.

This rate indicates a significant rise in the overall cost of goods and services, resulting in an additional monthly cost of $984.

In total, Pennsylvania families have spent an average of $24,445 per household in extra costs since January 2021.

The persistent increase in inflation has been driven by various factors, including supply chain disruptions, increased demand, and higher production costs. This overall rise in prices has placed additional financial strain on households across the state, making everyday expenses more challenging to manage.

In 2022, the high rates of inflation significantly reduced the real value of American wages, leading to widespread financial concerns, according to Statista. Many Americans expressed anxiety over the economy and reported worsening financial conditions. The inflation crisis in the United States, mirrored globally, was largely driven by COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In June 2022, the U.S. monthly inflation rate soared to a 40-year high of 9.1%, with annual inflation for the year reaching 8%. Without corresponding wage increases, Americans will continue to experience a decline in purchasing power. Since then, inflation has been cooling at a slow pace, but it still hovers above pre-pandemic levels. In June 2024, it reached 3%, with American families facing a CPI more than 20% higher than in January 2020.