Inflation is kicking families in the teeth — but a lot of people aren’t hearing the full story.

On top of the pandemic, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and supply chain tangles, giant corporations are using inflation as a smokescreen to hike up their prices for necessities like milk, cereal, diapers, and meat — big time. In fact, a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute concluded that fatter corporate profit margins have driven more than half of price increases since 2020.

And the proof is in the corporate-balance-sheet pudding:

If corporations were just passing along cost increases, their profits wouldn’t be shooting up into the stratosphere. But from Kroger to Hershey to Tyson, companies in all sorts of industries are seeing record profits.

Executives have been bragging to shareholders about how they are using inflation to their advantage instead of keeping prices stable for consumers.

Right now, big corporations are pulling the strings. It’s their puppet show — but we don’t have to keep living in it. I’ve just introduced a bill to fight back.

My Price Gouging Prevention Act would empower the Federal Trade Commission to investigate excessive prices during market shocks to stop corporations from squeezing American families in difficult times.

It would also require public companies to be transparent about their pricing strategies so they can’t hide their price increases behind inflation.

If we get this passed, we’ll bring real relief to families across the country. But it’s going to take all of us fighting side by side as a grassroots movement.

Will you add your name to say you support our Price Gouging Prevention Act? Let’s fight back against the giant corporations taking advantage of inflation to raid the pocketbooks of working people.

There’s another piece of the price-hike puzzle — it sets today’s inflation apart from previous bouts, and I’ve got a plan to address it, too.

The playing field has totally changed due to unchecked corporate consolidation.

For years, giant corporations have gobbled up their competitors for a bigger share of the pie. As a result, they can control things like pricing — without any fear that their consumers would go across the street for a cheaper price — because they own both sides of the street.

Take the meat industry. In 1977, the four biggest beef-packing firms had control of 25% of the market. Today, they control 82% of the market.

The fewer firms in an industry, the easier it is for them to collude and fix prices.

So a couple of months ago, I also introduced a bill to help stomp out rampant industry consolidation.

I’m going to keep attacking inflation from every which way. But it’s going to take a grassroots team to get Washington’s attention and get this done.

Add your name as a grassroots co-sponsor of our Price Gouging Prevention Act. Let’s make it clear that the American people are calling for change.

Thanks for being a part of this,

Elizabeth