Good afternoon and welcome to our Weekend Update.

The latest inflation numbers were released this week. Inflation has increased by 7.1% in the last year, and in Pennsylvania, it has increased by 12%.

While the Biden administration celebrates, Americans are suffering. There is no celebrating when my constituents go to the grocery store or the gas station and pay their home heating bills. They feel this pain every day. Click here to watch my recent floor speech.

I joined “Mornings with Maria” on Fox Business to discuss the Biden economy. Many struggle to stay afloat as they deal with record-high prices while paying back pandemic loans. The Biden administration and the Democrats answer to record inflation, deny it and pass yet another large big-government spending bill. This time to the tune of nearly $2 trillion. Click here or below to watch my interview.

Additionally, I joined Newsmax TV’s “Wake Up America” to discuss inflation. The level of spending, the student loans gimmick — things like this are what have caused inflation. This administration does not get it. We need to fortify the production side of America and not so much of the consumer side. The Fed is trying to curb consumer spending through higher interest rates which, of course, will have no effect on energy prices, and people are maxing out their credit cards. I can't imagine how we don't go into a recession heading into next year. I don't see many bright things going into the first quarter. Click here or below to watch my interview.

IN NEWS YOU WON’T HEAR IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Christmas and the holidays are far more expensive this year, thanks to the broken policy agenda of the Biden administration and Biden Democrats.

INFLATION SLAMS SHOPPERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON  

• This Christmas, Americans will pay more for everything under the tree (and the tree itself) thanks to Bidenflation.
  
  
  • This year’s Christmas price index – which calculates the price of gifts from the classic “Twelve Days of Christmas” – is up 10.5 percent, the largest increase since 2008.
    
    
  • More than three-quarters of Christmas tree growers plan to increase their prices between 5 to 15 percent compared to last year.
    
    
  • Overall, retail data suggests “a more subdued holiday shopping season than in 2021,” with consumers spending less and cutting back on what they buy themselves.
    
    
  • 41 percent of Americans plan to spend less this year than last, marking the most cautious holiday season since 2013.
    
    
• Families are facing steeper prices to travel to see loved ones over the holidays.
  • A round-trip flight during the Christmas season is now 39 percent more expensive than last year, making this the most expensive holiday airfare in five years.
    
    
  • Rates for hotel rooms and rental cars have spiked “12 percent and 46 percent respectively from where they were in 2019.”
    
    
  • Gas prices sit at $3.25 per gallon, remaining nearly $1 higher than before Biden took office.
    
    
• Holiday meals will be costlier, with staples like a Christmas ham (+7.8 percent), pie (+19.4 percent), and milk for Santa (+14.7 percent) all up.
  
  
• Along with a more expensive holiday, heating costs this winter are also expected to burn a hole in Americans’ wallets. 

As it relates to the economy, the Biden administration and Biden Democrats continue to make all the wrong moves. Raising interest rates and more government spending are a recipe for a recession. We must stop government spending and remove barriers impeding the private sector from growing. The only path out of this recession will be unleashing the power of free enterprise and reducing government spending.

That starts with a Republican House stopping Biden and the Democrats' big government spending. We must also begin allowing our domestic energy producers to return to work. We must reverse Biden's policy agenda today and produce American energy today.

This week I received one of the inaugural "Pioneers of Prosperity" awards from Americans for Prosperity. These awards were given to those who supported policy solutions to meet the most pressing obstacles in the country. I would also like to thank Americans for Prosperity - Pennsylvania for their impressive work this year. Pictured below with Thomas Fletcher, AFP senior legislative liaison and Ashley Klingensmith, AFP PA state director.

Lastly, I want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas and holiday season. This is a special time of year as we take stock of the many blessings we have in our life, especially family and friends.

As President Ronald Reagan said, “Christmas is a holiday that we celebrate not as individuals nor as a nation, but as a human family.”

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. Please have a joyous, blessed, and safe holiday season.

God bless, and see you soon,

Dan Meuser