(NAFB) – Food prices continue to spike, and the president hopes his antitrust push may help, but others argue too much spending and inflationary federal policies may mean no relief in the short term.

President Biden says his antitrust efforts will boost competition in agriculture, helping more farmers while reducing food inflation now up 3.5 percent from last year.

But others are skeptical market concentration is solely to blame, or that antitrust moves will solve the problem anytime soon. Biden’s political opponents like House GOP Whip Steve Scalise charge overspending with fueling inflation fires.

Former Senate Finance Chair Chuck Grassley also blames inflation on bills like the pending $3.5 trillion budget.

USDA expects food price spikes this summer in everything from beef and seafood to pork, poultry and dairy prices, with poultry up six percent over last year.