Crawford Times

The Biden administration attributes rising gas prices in Pennsylvania and across the country to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both through public statements and online campaigns to sway public opinion. However, historical data shows the rise in inflation began in early 2021, around the time President Joe Biden took office.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said to reporters this week, "Let me first say that Americans are paying a higher price at the pump because of the actions of President Putin," according to Fox News. She added, "This is a Putin spike at the gas pump, not one prompted by our sanctions."

In recent public remarks, Biden pinned the rise in gas prices on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Fox News reported that Kate Bedingfield, White House communications director, promoted the Twitter hashtag #PutinPriceHike to sway public opinion on the issue.

Others are not convinced, citing evidence of inflationary gas prices since early 2021, and pointing to the administration’s energy production policies as an underlying cause.

Statista reported that U.S. inflation rates have steadily increased since Biden took office. Their data showed that overall inflation stood at 1.7% in February 2021 and had climbed to 7.9% by February 2022.

Gas prices have followed suit, rising over the past year, according to data from YCharts. The site shows a national average price of $2.94 per gallon in March 2021, climbing to $3.53 per gallon at the start of February 2022. The average national price rose to $3.70 per gallon on Feb. 28, four days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to YCharts.

The price of gas has risen to its highest level since 2008, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). The organization reports that as of March 30, the national average stands at $4.24 per gallon, while Pennsylvanians are paying an average of $4.31 per gallon.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) blames the Biden administration for the surge in gas prices. In early March, he said on his website, "By effectively shutting down our own supply of critical oil and gas, the Biden administration increased our reliance on foreign countries for our energy needs, increased global emissions, and increased gas prices for American families."

Biden signed a series of executive orders aimed at curbing climate change in early 2021, which critics have argued excessively restricted domestic energy production, according to CNBC.

The president also announced a ban on all imports of Russian oil, gas, and energy into the U.S. in a public address on March 8, as seen on Twitter.

Dr. Mehmet Oz raised concerns about the administration’s energy policies, following reports that U.S. officials had opened talks with the governments of Venezuela and Iran, which potentially could lead to an easing of sanctions on the two countries in exchange for oil imports into the U.S.

Oz said on Twitter in early March, "Joe Biden's destruction of American energy independence has caused U.S. gas prices to reach a new record high. It’s time to increase production in Pennsylvania – not Venezuela or Iran."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) offered an alternative perspective, attributing rising gas prices to increased demand after the COVID-19 pandemic. Petroleum production has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to the WSJ, driving up the price of gas as demand rises due to the easing of pandemic restrictions. The paper also pointed out that Russian products accounted for approximately 8% of all U.S. oil and gas imports in 2021.