Sounding the alarm, Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says inflation 'poses a clear and present danger to our economy'

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia warned in a statement on Wednesday that soaring inflation poses a threat to the American economy.

"For more than a year, leaders in Washington have ignored the serious concerns raised by myself and others about the rising cost of inflation," Manchin said in a statement. "While Washington seems to now understand this reality, it is time for us to work together to get unnecessary spending under control, produce more energy at home and take more active and serious steps to address this record inflation that now poses a clear and present danger to our economy. No matter what spending aspirations some in Congress may have, it is clear to anyone who visits a grocery store or a gas station that we cannot add any more fuel to this inflation fire."

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released a new consumer price index report on Wednesday which showed that inflation has continued to skyrocket.

"The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.3 percent in June on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 1.0 percent in May," the report noted. "Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 9.1 percent before seasonal adjustment."

"The all items index increased 9.1 percent for the 12 months ending June, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending November 1981," according to the BLS.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a popular Republican figure who is running for re-election this year in the Sunshine State's gubernatorial election contest, commented on the stratospheric inflation.

"Brutal inflation report shows a devastating increase of 9.1.% year-over-year. Bidenflation is wreaking havoc on workers, families & small businesses - a consequence of anti-American energy policy, exorbitant borrowing & printing of money & counterproductive federal regulations," DeSantis tweeted.

In a statement about the CPI data, President Joe Bien described the headline inflation number as both "unacceptably high" and "out-of-date."

"Today's data does not reflect the full impact of nearly 30 days of decreases in gas prices, that have reduced the price at the pump by about 40 cents since mid-June. Those savings are providing important breathing room for American families. And, other commodities like wheat have fallen sharply since this report," Biden said.

As of Wednesday, the AAA national average price for a gallon of regular gas is $4.631. That number is down slightly since last month when it rose as high as $5.016.