Along with rising prices at the grocery store and gas station, and in real estate/mortgage rates, Washington-made price hikes have made this a frightful season for the party in charge, writes James Freeman in the WSJ.
This is the time of year many brave souls will enjoy viewing “Nightmare on Elm Street,” considered by many critics and film historians as one of “the greatest horror movies ever filmed.”
Sticker Shock in the Candy Aisle
But back on Main Street, USA, inflation is hitting the candy aisle and frightening already shocked consumers. Talk about taking the fun out of Halloween.
Toying with the Audience’s Perception
Critics and film historians of “Nightmare on Elm Street” describe it as the struggle to define the “distinction between dreams and reality.” Much praise is attributed to the film’s ability to transgress the “boundaries between imaginary and real.” Don’t forget, we are still talking here about Elm Street (the movie), not Main Street (the reality).
The WSJ’s Alyssa Lukpat reports:
Soaring inflation has already strained home buyers, drivers at the gas pump and people buying plane tickets.
Now it’s coming for shoppers in the Halloween candy aisle, too.
Candy prices are up more than 13% from a year ago, according to the Labor Department, the largest-ever yearly jump for candy. Surging labor costs and skyrocketing flour and sugar prices have helped fuel the increase, candy makers say.
Customers say they have been experiencing sticker shock in the candy aisle this month as they reckon with an unfamiliar question: Do they overspend on sweets or leave empty-handed, forgoing the Halloween fun?
Rather than acknowledging that the party in the White House (is to blame for ) for higher prices, Vermont’s Socialist Bernie Sanders, notes Mr. Freeman, is attacking the heirs to a candy empire.
Rising candy prices have even drawn the attention of some politicians. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) last week tweeted about the rising cost of candy and compared it to the rising wealth of the Mars family, which he said increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many wealthy Americans got even richer in 2020 and 2021 largely because of soaring stock prices.
Bernie’s “Sandernista” message on social media (Twitter) has been swift, reports Mr. Freeman:
Many Twitter users clearly don’t think much of class-war rhetoric coming from “so-called socialists who own three homes.”
A number of commenters are publicly wondering how Mr. Sanders became wealthy on a Senate salary. Others are pointing out the broad inflation that can be found far beyond the candy aisle—and they’re blaming Washington spending. A few suggested that candy makers are run more sensibly and inexpensively than Mr. Sanders’ beloved government.
Twitter Users Respond:
- Consumers made a choice and someone benefited. Which of these two things do you hate more? The consumer choice, or the fact that someone profited from it?
- It’s corporate greed causing inflation, not the $5 trillion the central bank created out of thin air. Sure, bro.
Toying with Consumers’ Perception
Now Mr. Sanders is adding Big Candy to the list of Democrats’ imaginary inflation villains, observes Mr. Freeman.
The list already includes Big Beef, Big Turkey, Big Oil, and Little Gasoline, among others. It’s almost as if, by an amazing coincidence, businesspeople selling all the stuff people want to buy suddenly became more greedy at the exact same time.
Perhaps Twitter users can help the Vermont senator grasp the concept of inflation by using simple examples involving things that Mr. Sanders enjoys buying, like houses and mutual fund shares.
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