JD Vance inflates egg prices to criticize Harris on economy: JD Vance in the news
READING, Pa. — Ohio Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump’s Republican vice-presidential running mate, tried to use a grocery store cooler full of eggs over the weekend to blast Vice President Kamala Harris on the economy.
Standing in a grocery store in Reading, Pa., with his sons, Vance cited the price of eggs as an example of what he called failed economic policies.
“Let’s talk about eggs,” Vance said to the assembled media, “because these guys (his two young sons) actually eat about 14 eggs every single morning.”
The price now is too high, particularly in Pennsylvania, Vance said.
“Look at the prices here. Things are way too expensive, and they’re way too expensive because of Kamala Harris’ policies,” Vance said.
“Eggs, when Kamala Harris took office, were short of $1.50 a dozen. Now, a dozen eggs will cost you around $4, thanks to Kamala Harris’ inflationary policies,” he said.
Except they don’t.
There are two problems with Vance’s illustration.
First, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs sold in U.S. cities in August was about $3.20.
Indeed, the price was about $1.50 when President Joe Biden and Harris took office in 2020. The price peaked in January 2023 at $4.82 a dozen, but it has since fallen.
Vance’s second problem is that clearly visible behind him, during his media stunt, were eggs for $2.99 a dozen. While they aren’t large sized, Vance only made reference to “a dozen eggs.”
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Cleveland.com is closely tracking JD Vance’s every move and the reactions he provokes, as he becomes the first Ohioan in 80 years to appear on a presidential ticket for either major party. The coverage of JD Vance aims to provide a daily snapshot of the buzz surrounding him, capturing what he says, what he does, and what others are saying about him.