White House quietly signals inflationary run could last years

The White House is sending mixed messages on the United States's post-pandemic inflationary run, with quiet signals suggesting the period might last years longer than administration officials have publicly indicated.

The Consumer Price Index report for May published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that year-over-year inflation jumped 5.4%, marking three straight months of increases and the single-largest increase since the Great Recession of 2008.

Still, the White House's Council of Economic Advisers noted roughly 60% of that increase could be attributed to auto industry demand, exacerbated by severe semiconductor shortages.

The Biden administration previously identified semiconductors as one of four areas with major supply chain deficiencies. Yet, Sameera Fazili, deputy director of Biden's National Economic Council, told reporters in June inflation caused by semiconductor supply chain issues would not last long.