美国总统乔·拜登周三启程，谈论美国农民在缓解俄罗斯入侵乌克兰造成的全球粮食短缺方面可以发挥的作用。

在伊利诺伊州坎卡基的家庭农场奥康纳农场，拜登概述了他的政府正在采取的措施，以帮助农民增加国内生产。

“现在美国正在两条战线上作战，”拜登说。“在国内，是通货膨胀和物价上涨。在国外，它正在帮助乌克兰人捍卫他们的民主，并为世界各地因为俄罗斯的暴行而挨饿的人提供食物。”

拜登继续说道，“我们的农民在这两个方面都提供了帮助，降低了国内的食品价格，扩大了产量，满足了全世界的需求。”

为了支持这一事业，政府将增加可以获得双季种植保险的县的数量，即在同一土地上一年种植第二茬作物。这也将使拜登承诺的化肥生产资金从2.5亿美元增加到5亿美元。

伊利诺伊农场的主人杰夫·奥康纳说，这些变化将使美国农民“在非常关键的时刻挺身而出”

奥康纳在介绍拜登时说:“农业社区随时准备最大限度地提高产量，在这个世界需要的时候，我们做得很好。”。

安德鲁·哈尔尼克/美联社

乔·拜登总统在参观奥康纳农场时发表讲话...

拜登在伊利诺伊州露面之前，刚刚公布了4月份的消费者价格指数，这是衡量通货膨胀的一个关键指标。美国劳工统计局(Bureau of Labor Statistics)周三上午报告称，上月消费者价格较上年同期上涨8.3%，较3月份8.5%的峰值略有下降，但仍接近40年来的最高水平。

统计局称，食物、住宿、机票和新车的成本是4月份统计数据的主要来源。

过去12个月，食品价格总体上涨9.4%，3月至4月上涨0.9%。食品杂货价格甚至更高，比一年前上涨了10.8%。

根据美国汽车协会的数据，周三汽油价格创下每加仑4.40美元的历史新高。

拜登在一份针对4月份数据的声明中表示:“尽管看到4月份的年度通胀有所放缓令人振奋，但事实仍然是通胀水平高得令人无法接受。”。“正如我昨天所说，通货膨胀是全国家庭面临的挑战，降低通货膨胀是我的首要经济任务。”

通胀将成为2022年中期选举的最大问题之一。对拜登来说，一个坏消息是ABC新闻/华盛顿邮报民意调查发现大多数美国人不赞成他对经济问题的处理。

在对消费者价格新数据的预期中，拜登周二发表了关于其政府打击通胀努力的讲话。他的讲话还瞄准了他所说的“超级”共和党人，最著名的是佛罗里达州参议员里克·斯科特和他让所有美国人缴纳部分联邦所得税的计划。

“共和党的计划是增加中产阶级家庭的税收，”拜登说，尽管斯科特的计划已被参议院少数党领袖米奇·麦康奈尔驳回。

讲话结束后，一名记者问拜登，公众什么时候可以期待价格下降。

“我不知道，但我知道我们必须做什么来确保我们能把它降下来，”拜登回应道。

Biden says US farmers can help in inflation fight as food prices continue to soar

President Joe Biden hit the road Wednesday to talk about the role American farmers can play in alleviating global food shortages caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At O’Connor Farms, a family-run farm in Kankakee, Illinois, Biden outlined steps his administration is taking to help farmers ramp up domestic production.

"Right now America is fighting on two fronts," Biden said. "At home, it’s inflation and rising prices. Abroad, it’s helping Ukrainians defend their democracy and feeding those who are left hungry around the world because Russian atrocities exist."

Biden continued, "Our farmers are helping both on both fronts, reducing the food cost of price of food at home and expanding production and feeding the world in need."

To support this cause, the administration will increase the number of counties that can get insurance for double cropping, or planting a second crop on the same land in a single year. It will also double Biden's pledged funding for the production of fertilizer from $250 million to $500 million.

Jeff O'Connor, the owner of the Illinois farm, said the changes will allow U.S. farmers to "step up at a very critical time."

“The farming community stands ready to maximize production, which we do so well, in this time of world need,” O’Connor said as he introduced Biden.

Biden's appearance in Illinois came fresh on the heels of the release of April's consumer price index -- a key measure of inflation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday morning consumer prices rose 8.3% last month from the year prior, a slight dip from March's peak of 8.5% but still close to a four-decade high.

The cost of food as well as shelter, airfare and new vehicles were the main contributors to the April statistics, the bureau said.

Food prices overall are up 9.4% in the last 12 months, increasing 0.9% from March to April. Grocery prices are even higher, up 10.8% from a year ago.

Gas prices hit a record high on Wednesday of $4.40 per gallon, according to AAA.

"While it is heartening to see that annual inflation moderated in April, the fact remains that inflation is unacceptably high," Biden said in a statement reacting to the April data. "As I said yesterday, inflation is a challenge for families across the country and bringing it down is my top economic priority."

Inflation is poised to be one of the biggest issues in the 2022 midterm elections. In bad news for Biden, a recentABC News/Washington Post pollfound most Americans disapprove of his handling of the economic issue.

In anticipation of the new data on consumer prices, Biden on Tuesday delivered remarks on efforts by his administration to combat inflation. His speech also took aim at what he describes as "ultra-MAGA" Republicans, most notably Florida Sen. Rick Scott and his plan to have all Americans pay some federal income tax.

"The Republican plan is to increase taxes on middle class families," Biden said, despite the fact that Scott's plan has been dismissed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

After his remarks, Biden was asked by a reporter when the public can expect prices to come down.

"I don't know, but I know what we have to do to make sure that we can bring it down," Biden responded.