| Hello John, Under the Biden administration, inflation reshaped family finances for the worse. Higher prices aren’t an accident: They’re the result of government choices that have made everyday necessities more expensive for working families.
As Congress debates what comes next, it’s critical to understand how bad policies are driving up costs and what you can do to push for a better path forward.
Below are three ways government actions continue to make life less affordable, and how smarter policies could help restore prosperity.
📈 Prices have hugely outpaced pay
- Prices have surged by 26% since 2020
- But there’s only been a 3% growth (or $11 a week) in inflation-adjusted weekly earnings
That growing gap between soaring costs and stagnant pay is crushing the American Dream. At this point, simply telling families to “budget better” isn’t a serious answer. We’re often told higher costs are the new normal. They aren’t. In most cases, rising prices come down to basic supply and demand. When government policies restrict supply, prices go up. It’s elementary economics. 🛑 Red tape means home prices skyrocket When government makes it harder to build homes, fewer homes get built. - Endless permits,
- restrictive zoning,
- and top-down mandates choke off supply.
The result is predictable: higher rents, higher home prices, and fewer options for working families. This isn’t a market failure — it’s a policy failure. Yet when these policies don’t work, many politicians respond by doubling down with price controls. That only makes things worse. Price controls are deeply flawed: They create shortages, force bureaucratic rationing, and often lead to black markets. Rent control is a prime example. Instead of helping low-income renters, it reduces housing supply and makes it even harder for people to find a place to live. ⚡ Energy policy hits everything we buy Energy isn’t optional. It powers homes, moves goods, grows food, and keeps businesses running. When government permitting policies restrict domestic energy production, energy prices rise. Those higher costs don’t stay in the energy sector — they show up everywhere: - at the gas pump,
- the grocery store,
- and on monthly utility bills.
For families on tight budgets and seniors on fixed incomes, higher energy costs are especially painful. Our outdated and broken permitting system is a major reason prices remain high. If we want more affordable energy and a stronger economy, permitting reform must be part of the solution. Affordability isn’t a talking point: It’s about whether families can get ahead or just scrape by. Policy choices matter. And right now, families are paying the price for bad ones.
If we want real relief from high prices, Congress must fix the broken permitting system that’s holding back affordable energy.
📢 AFP is leading the charge. Can we count on you to add your voice now?
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