Carbondale Reporter

Illinois Twelfth Congressional District candidate Mike Bost recently proposed a solution to the escalating inflation issue via a social media post. Bost, the current Republican incumbent in the district, is set to face Democrat Brian Roberts in the forthcoming general election. He also shared a Newsweek article detailing the inflation situation.

"Inflation is accelerating and prices continue to be painfully high for food, gas, and rent," said Bost, according to Facebook. "Let's send Joe Biden packing this November and re-elect President Trump. He will bring back a booming economy!"

In a Facebook post, Bost shared a link to an article by Fox Business that examined where high prices are impacting Americans most significantly. The article highlighted that rent has increased by 5.7% since 2023 and by .5% for the month; Food prices may have seen a marginal change of 0.1% from February, but they have risen by 2.2% compared to last year. Furthermore, when compared to before inflation began its upward trend, food costs are now 21% higher. Energy prices also experienced a 1.1% increase during March, including an almost 2% hike in gas prices. Interestingly, the article noted that travel and transportation costs and new vehicle prices actually decreased in March.

Screenshot of MIke Bost's April 10 Facebook post. | Mike Bost Campaign Facebook page

According to U.S. News and World Report, "the drop in economic activity that the Fed expected when it began aggressively raising interest rates in 2022 has not materialized, and both the economy and the labor market are very strong." This combination is what has reportedly "allowed inflation to come in above the Fed’s preferred 2% annual target." The publication also notes that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell anticipates rate cuts this year but hasn't provided further details.

Bost currently represents Illinois’ 12th District, having assumed this role on January 6, 2015. His political career includes two decades of service in the Illinois State House of Representatives as House Republican Caucus Chair. A lifelong resident of Murphysboro, Bost served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1979-1982 and was a driver and truck manager for Bost Trucking Service for 24 years. He joined the Murphysboro Fire Department after graduating from the University of Illinois’ Certified Firefighter II Academy in 1993, as per his official biography on his House of Representatives website.

The Illinois 12th Congressional District encompasses communities such as Carbondale, Anna, Vienna, Harrisburg, McLeansboro, Benton, Du Quoin, Sparta, Nashville, Breese, Centralia, Louisville, Fairfield, Albion, Olney, Newton, Effingham, Robinson and Marshall. It also includes parts of Paducah, Cape Girardeau, Sainte Genevieve, Festus, Oakville, Belleville Lawrenceville and Harmony according to Ballotpedia.