After being elected in response to voter concerns about the high cost of living during the Biden administration’s post-pandemic economy, former President Donald Trump has been back in the White House for nearly 10 months, but the prices of many household essentials continue to climb, leading to economic strain as reported by U.S. voters. Despite this, Trump refutes claims that his tariffs are fueling inflation or that costs are on the rise. The administration appears to acknowledge its political vulnerability on affordability issues but has not yet devised a concrete plan to address these concerns beyond negation.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham recently questioned Trump on the impact of affordability in the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. Trump dismissed the idea that affordability concerns are valid, attributing them to what he described as a Democratic-led misinformation campaign.
During his 2024 election campaign, Trump pledged to “make America affordable again,” yet current statistics reveal that his administration has not achieved this goal. The most recent consumer price index data for September indicates that grocery prices have surged by 2.7% compared to the same period in 2024 and by 1.4% since January when Trump took office.
Prices have increased year over year in various household expenditure categories, including housing (up by 3.6%), medical care (up by 3.9%), car insurance (up by 3.1%), and electricity (up by 5.1%). Despite these escalations, Trump maintains his stance that costs have decreased, highlighting reductions in gas and egg prices as evidence.
Gasoline prices have remained close to $3 per gallon over the past year, with Trump attributing this stability to his energy policies. However, data suggests that this claim lacks substantiation, as the average gas price was slightly lower last month compared to when Trump assumed office.
In response to affordability concerns, Trump has proposed implementing unconventional measures, such as 50-year mortgages and distributing $2,000 dividend checks from tariff revenues to citizens. He also aims to revamp health insurance by shifting away from the current subsidy model, proposing a system dubbed “Trumpcare.”
Despite Trump’s assertions, polls and recent election outcomes indicate that voters are apprehensive about the economy and the cost of living. The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index hit near-record lows, and surveys reveal that a significant portion of Americans have experienced rising grocery costs, utility bills, and healthcare expenses over the past year.
While Trump has a history of distorting facts to bolster his claims, the tangible impact of increased living expenses on individuals may challenge the narrative that the cost of living is declining under his administration.