By Emily Sacia || Arizona Republic
Consumer prices rose to 13% in the metro Phoenix area for the month of August, the highest in the nation.
Incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., on Tuesday reassured that constituents prices will cool soon, but Republican U.S. Senate challenger Blake Masters took a more pessimistic tone, pinning the blame on the White House and Kelly.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday that the consumer price index rose by an average of 8.3% nationwide over the past 12 months, slightly above analysts’ forecast for August.
Higher prices were driven primarily by increased costs of shelter, food and medical care and marginally offset by a steady decline in gas prices.
But as the Nov. 8 general election approaches, inflation remains a looming issue that could help determine whether Democrats’ keep their evenly split majority in the 100-member U.S. Senate.
More answers:Senate rivals Mark Kelly, Blake Masters answer Republic’s questions on policy, style-
The rise in consumer prices in the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area has remained above the nation’s average since October of last year, leaving many area residents tightening their wallets to curb the effects of rising inflation.
The Arizona Republic reached out to both major party candidates in Arizona’s U.S. Senate to gauge their reaction to the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale area’s outpaced inflation rates.
Here are their written responses, provided in alphabetical order:
