President Joe Biden recently expressed his astonishment and frustration over the phenomenon known as “shrinkflation,” highlighting the issue alongside the beloved Sesame Street character, Cookie Monster, who lamented the downsizing of his cookies without a reduction in price. This concern was voiced during a White House event focusing on the economic messaging of the administration as the 2024 election approaches.
“Shrinkflation” refers to the practice by businesses, notably snack producers, of reducing the size of their products while maintaining the same price point, effectively giving consumers less value for their money. Biden’s commentary came in response to a post by Cookie Monster on social media, stating, “Me hate shrinkflation! Me cookies are getting smaller,” which garnered significant attention online.
The President, aligning with the furry blue character’s sentiment, criticized this business strategy, pointing out not just the issue with cookies but extending his disapproval to other products like potato chips, where consumers are receiving significantly fewer products for the same price. During his speech, Biden called on companies to halt this practice, emphasizing the unfairness to consumers and urging them to stop treating the American public like “suckers.”
This issue of shrinkflation has become a significant part of the Biden administration’s economic narrative, as they aim to direct public dissatisfaction with the economy towards corporate America. With inflation affecting various sectors, including the food industry, the administration is keen on highlighting these practices to illustrate how consumers are being unfairly impacted.
The White House’s engagement with the topic, especially through the lens of a popular cultural figure like Cookie Monster, is an attempt to resonate with everyday Americans’ experiences. Even White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre weighed in on the matter, humorously acknowledging the unusual nature of discussing Cookie Monster at a press briefing but supporting the administration’s stance on the issue.
As inflation slowly decreases, the administration is actively highlighting practices like shrinkflation to connect with voters on economic issues, framing the administration as a champion for consumers facing subtle price hikes in their daily lives. Through this strategy, the Biden administration hopes to improve public perception of its handling of the economy by pointing out the covert ways in which consumers are being disadvantaged.