Rockford Sun

Jerry Evans, a candidate for Illinois' 11th Congressional District, recently expressed concern over the escalating costs of grocery staples and the impact of inflation on Illinois residents. Evans, who is set to compete against incumbent Democrat Bill Foster in the general election, also disseminated an article on this subject from Fox Business.

"Inflation is still high at 3.5% annually, and it is on the rise again. Everyday Americans are spending far more on food than ever before," said Evans, according to Facebook. "Since the beginning of the Biden administration, eggs are up 49.3%, flour is up 33.5%, butter is up 32%, sugar is up 29.1%, baby food is up 30.5%. Democrats like Bill Foster rubber-stamped the high-inflation Biden agenda that is hurting so many lower income and middle class Americans. It is time for a change."

In a Facebook post, Evans shared a link to a Fox Business article that examined how rising prices are affecting Americans. The article highlighted that rent has increased by 5.7% since 2023 and by .5% for the month. While food prices may have altered by only 0.1% from February, they have surged by 2.2% compared to last year. Furthermore, when contrasted with figures prior to the inflation hike, food costs are now 21% higher. Energy prices also saw an increase of 1.1% in March, including a nearly 2% rise in gas prices. Interestingly, the article noted that travel and transportation costs along with new vehicle prices actually declined in March.

Screenshot of Jerry Evans for Congress April 10 Facebook post | Jerry Evans for Congress Facebook page

According to U.S. News and World Report, "the drop in economic activity that the Fed expected when it began aggressively raising interest rates in 2022 has not materialized, and both the economy and the labor market are very strong." This robust combination is what has reportedly "allowed inflation to come in above the Fed’s preferred 2% annual target." The publication also mentioned that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell anticipates rate cuts this year but hasn't provided additional details.

Evans' campaign centers around education and community service in Chicago's vicinity. A small businessman himself and founder of a suburban music school, Evans is a Wheaton College graduate with a degree in music. Now residing in Warrenville with his wife and sons, he actively participates in mentoring programs, missionary training sessions, and missions to India, Mexico, and South Africa. His website reveals that he was raised alongside his four siblings on the Midwestern values of hard work and community assistance.

The 11th Congressional District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL), encompasses most of McHenry and Kane Counties and parts of Boone, Lake, DeKalb, DuPage, Cook, and Will Counties. The Census Bureau reports that the district has a population exceeding 700,000.