Balancing act Could rising prices sink the Democrats' midterm hopes?

The latest inflation report from the US labor department, released last week, showed US prices increased by 8.5% between March 2021 and March 2022 - the highest level since 1981.

-  Joan E Greve

President Biden has tried to play down concerns

The White House tried to downplay concerns last year by arguing price increases were caused by the coronavirus pandemic and would prove “transitory”. Now, more than a year after vaccines became widely available, Democrats are grappling with how to help families struggling under the weight of inflation.

Unless Democrats come up with an effective plan, Republicans could be on the way to a historic victory this November.

The president's party usually loses seats, particularly the House, in midterm years. Biden's approval rating, in the low 40s for months, is not helping matters.

The Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, said the "atmosphere for Republicans is better than it was in 1994" - when the party flipped eight Senate seats and gained a net of 54 House seats.

"From an atmospheric point of view, it's a perfect storm of problems for Democrats because it's an entirely Democratic government,” McConnell said.