Prairie State Wire

As Illinois residents face spiraling prices at a historic high, State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) reflects on inflation and what it could mean for families across the state.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) summary on July 13, which found that costs have risen 9.1% in the last year, marking a 40-year high. In the last month, the cost of energy increased by 7.5%, gas prices climbed 11.2%, and the cost of food increased by 1%. In the last year, the cost of gas has risen by 59.9%, while food prices have increased by 10.4%.

When asked if inflation would have an effect on the state's economy, Bailey told Prairie State Wire, "It’s already having a big impact, as Gov. Pritzker has been irresponsible with all the COVID money and now we’re seeing rampant inflation, and it’s by far surpassing people’s abilities to pay for things. We’ve got some interesting days ahead of us."

Bailey predicts that Illinois residents will not only have to endure rising inflation, but they may also have to face higher taxes as well. 

"At the federal level they almost have to due to all the debt," Bailey said. "Here at home, we’ve got to cut the waste and reprioritize our spending. Gov. Pritzker and his administration have failed altogether. He refuses to address the high energy rates, and the gas taxes. It’s just incompetency across the board."

Bailey said that he'd witnessed the harmful effects of inflation on constituents. 

"Grandparents are having to make tough decisions about doing things with their grandchildren, families are having to put off vacations and now most Illinois residents are receiving letters letting them know their utilities bills are doubling, all while the high cost of food has people not going out," Bailey said. "It has made for tough times for everyone, and I hold the governor responsible for creating the problem and then being unable to fix it."

Business owners, facing increased costs in supplies, shipping and other expenditures, could be forced to cut jobs, according to The Center Square. Todd Maisch, CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, said, "The question for policy makers in Illinois" is whether they are going to raise taxes because of inflation, "or are we going to weather the storm and show that government can be on sound fiscal footing."

Illinoisans are paying an average of $4,386 more in 2022 than they paid in 2021 for the same goods and services due to price increases, according to Illinois Policy. The average Illinois resident will pay an extra $1,122 for gas this year, while also spending an additional $504 on groceries and $280 for utilities. These extra costs mean many people will dip into their savings and skip some recreational activities.