SW Iowa Times

With inflation close to 6% year over year, one Iowa state senator recently spoke out on the rising cost of basic goods and services.

The cost of living has increased 5.4% over the past 12 months with inflation rising 0.9% in the June, according to a July 13 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. President Joe Biden has suggested that this inflation is transitory and that his economic agenda will tamp down inflation even with massive amounts of new government spending, FOX Business reported.

Iowa State Sen. Joni Ernst took to Twitter to speak out on the issue.

"For the hardworking Iowans & Americans feeling the pinch from rising prices, inflation does matter," Ernst wrote in a July 28 Twitter post. "There’s no reason for the Democrats to ram through their reckless #TaxAndSpendSpree."

Of the 0.9% inflation increase in the past month, the cost of used cars accounted for more than one-third of the increase, rising 10.5% for the month of June, according to Market Watch. Sharply rising costs of food, energy and clothing also contributed to the numbers.

The 5.4% inflation increase for the year is the highest ever since 2008.