Jean-Pierre: Gas Is 'Going Down to About $1.60' a Gallon. The National Average Was $3.39 (February 14, 2023)

A reporter asked a simple question: “When can Americans see prices significantly decrease?” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre answered with gas. “We talk often about the gas prices going down by — going down to about $1.60 — $1.60 per gallon,” she said. “That’s because the President took historic steps to see that happening” [1].

Gas was not $1.60 a gallon. The national average for regular gasoline was $3.390 the day before, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration [2].

The White House talking point was that gas had fallen by $1.60 from its peak. Jean-Pierre had said it correctly earlier in the same briefing: “Gas prices are down about $1.60 from their peak” [1].

The video above shows the exchange from the Feb. 14, 2023, White House briefing. Quotes are from the official transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

”Going Down to About $1.60”

The question came on the day the government reported January’s inflation numbers. “So, we’ve heard some CPI questions today — CPI. When can Americans see prices significantly decrease?” the reporter asked [1].

Jean-Pierre did not give a date. “So, look, what we have been seeing — and I laid this out — we have seen inflation starting to moderate over the last seven months. And that’s important. That’s important because, again, the President’s economic plan is indeed working,” she said [1].

Then came the gas line and a look back: “The last time — the last time we saw a peak in gas prices was this — this past summer” [1].

She closed with a familiar warning. “And sometimes there may be setbacks. But that’s not going to prevent the President from doing everything that he can to lower cost,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

What the Numbers Showed

The record from the Energy Information Administration’s weekly survey of regular gasoline [2]:

$2.379: the national average the week of Jan. 18, 2021, two days before Biden took office.
$5.006: the peak, the week of June 13, 2022.
$3.390: the week of Feb. 13, 2023, the day before the briefing.

So prices had come down about $1.60 from the peak. But they were still about a dollar higher than when Biden was sworn in [2].

President Joe Biden’s own statement that morning used the talking point correctly. “Gas prices are down about $1.60 from their peak last year,” it said [3].

”Inflation Came Down”

The same morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices had “increased 6.4 percent for the 12 months ending January” [4].

Gas had not kept falling either. The BLS reported that “the gasoline index increased 2.4 percent over the month,” and that before seasonal adjustment, “gasoline prices rose 3.2 percent in January” [4].

Earlier in the briefing, a reporter had asked whether the new report raised “some alarm” because the cooling had slowed. Jean-Pierre read the White House’s list: “The annual inflation fell for seven — seven straight months. Inflation came down for groceries and food at home, last month” [1].

”By $1.7 Trillion”

Jean-Pierre also repeated the president’s deficit claim. Think about “what he’s done to lower the deficit by $1.7 trillion,” she said, adding that Biden’s coming budget would “continue to lower the deficit with — by another $2 trillion” [1]. For how that $1.7 trillion claim held up, see HYGO News’ page on Biden’s Bidenomics speech.

And she credited the Inflation Reduction Act for insulin, which she said “is going to be capped at seniors — for seniors at 35 bucks” [1].

”Real Wages Are Up”

Jean-Pierre’s list included wages. “Real wages are up, as I mentioned moments ago, over the last seven months, for working families, even as unemployment remains at its lowest level since 1969,” she said [1].

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its wage numbers that same morning. “Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.2 percent from December to January,” it reported. Over the full year, “Real average hourly earnings decreased 1.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, from January 2022 to January 2023” [5].

In other words, after two years of Biden’s economy, a typical hour of work bought less than it had a year earlier [5].

A reporter she called Josh pressed her on it. “Numbers came out today that show a monthly decline in real wages, as well as an annual decline in real wages. The administration officials have said growing real wages is an important marker for the economy. How do you view the setback in today’s numbers?” [1] Jean-Pierre answered: “Real wages are indeed up over the last seven months, which is important since trends are always more useful than one month’s data, as you know.” [1]

“Should We Expect to Hear From Him?”

A reporter noted that “The U.S. shot down three objects from the sky that are now deemed to be benign,” and lawmakers were criticizing the President for not speaking out more [1]. “Not to belabor this point. But on the criticism coming from lawmakers that the President hasn’t spoken out more on this, should we expect to hear from him at some point?” a reporter asked [1].

“I — look, I don’t have — I don’t have any — any announcement or anything to preview on a potential — you know, remarks by the President,” Jean-Pierre said [1].

By the Numbers

$1.60: the drop in gas prices from the peak, which Jean-Pierre called the price [1][2].
$3.390: the actual national average the day before the briefing [2].
$5.006: the June 2022 peak [2].
6.4%: inflation over the 12 months ending January 2023 [4].
3.2%: January’s rise in gasoline prices before seasonal adjustment [4].
1.8%: the drop in real average hourly earnings over the 12 months ending January 2023 [5].

What Happened Next

Gas went back up. By the week of Sept. 18, 2023, the national average had climbed to $3.878, according to the EIA [2].

Biden left office with gas higher than he found it. The week of Jan. 20, 2025, when Biden’s term ended, the average was $3.109, about 73 cents above the week before he took office [2].

For more of Jean-Pierre’s numbers from the podium, see HYGO News’ Karine Jean-Pierre record page, and for one of the “historic steps” she meant, the page on Biden’s oil reserve sales.