[Page H5720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COST OF LIVING IS MORE THAN REPORTED

  (Mr. GROTHMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, this is directed to the press as much as 
to the Chair and whoever is listening at home.
  Everybody knows we have a lot of inflation. We are supposed to repeat 
again and again that inflation was at 8.6 percent in May, which is the 
highest it has been in 40 years. The press should report that there is 
no way inflation is only 8.6 percent.
  Housing is listed as going up 5.5 percent. Have you talked to any 
landlords? Have you talked to any builders? There is a contorted way 
that you arrive at that 5.5 percent. That number should be more like 15 
to 20 to 25 percent.
  Talk to some car dealers. See if they think the cost of used cars has 
gone up only 16.1 percent in the last year. That number should be 30 
percent.
  We should not let the administration get away with such low numbers. 
I call upon the American press to do a little bit of research for once 
and tell us what the real cost of living has gone up in this country 
over the last year. It is way more than 8.6 percent.

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