meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

Inflation Eases While Joe Biden Faces Another Document Debacle

WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch

The Wall Street Journal

News, Society & Culture

4.22.8K Ratings

🗓️ 12 January 2023

⏱️ 24 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Joe Biden started his day by announcing U.S. inflation had slowed for the sixth straight month and touting other positive signs for the economy. But by mid-afternoon, Attorney General Merrick Garland had appointed a special counsel to investigate the mishandling of classified documents after another stash was discovered in the garage (next to the Corvette) at the President's private residence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Not running your business on NetSuite is like trying to sink a putt with a cap pulled over your eyes.

0:05.0

NetSuite by Oracle gives you visibility and control of your financials, inventory, budgeting, and more, all in one place.

0:13.0

NetSuite has a new financing program for those ready to upgrade at NetSuite.com slash Wall Street.

0:22.0

From the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal, this is Potomac Watch.

0:27.0

Inflation falls again in December to 6.5% on an annual basis, and that makes six months in a row.

0:35.0

Has the Federal Reserve finally got prices under control, and does this mean the United States economy can skirt a recession in 2023?

0:45.0

Plus, Joe Biden's age discovered a second batch of classified documents this time in his garage at his home in Wilmington next to his Corvette.

0:55.0

The president isn't making life any easier for Attorney General, Mayor Garland, as he decides how to handle the dueling document cases of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

1:05.0

Welcome. Joe Sternberg and Kim Strassel, my editorial page colleagues, I'm Paul Gigo.

1:11.0

Let's talk first about this inflation number following the 6.5% in December on an annual basis actually, prices fell overall 0.1% in the month.

1:20.0

And President Biden leapt on the good news. Let's listen.

1:24.0

Today we've got some good news. Good news about the economy for the 6 month in a row.

1:29.0

Inflation has come down measured over the last 12 months and has fallen 6.5 to 6.5%.

1:36.0

That's down from 7.1% the month before. It's down from 9.1% this summer.

1:42.0

Inflation is now at its lowest level since October of 2021.

1:47.0

When we look at the just the last three months, we see the inflation fell to 1.8% on an annualized basis.

1:55.0

It's down from more than 11% in the first three months of last year.

2:00.0

So the data is clear. Even though inflation is high and major economies around the world is coming down in America month after month.

2:08.0

He's right there coming down. The prices are coming down. Of course, they were the worst inflation in 40 years for most of last year.

2:14.0

And 6.5% is hardly anything to cheer about since it's still a very high price level increases.

2:21.0

And imposing a lot of pain on people. But as President right to crow here and are we out of the woods on inflation?

2:28.0

Well, I mean, look, you can't blame a guy for trying. And if I were the president, I would try to claim credit for any good economic news I could find too.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Wall Street Journal, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Wall Street Journal and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.