Trump vows to make US affordable again, as Americans feel the pinch

December 10, 2025

President Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania claiming consumer prices are falling dramatically, though data shows prices are actually still rising, just at a slower pace than before. While fuel and egg prices have decreased, most groceries, housing, childcare, and healthcare costs remain elevated, with overall prices up 25% over five years. The administration has removed tariffs on some food products and reduced fuel efficiency standards while blaming the Biden administration and Federal Reserve interest rates for ongoing economic challenges.

Who is affected

American consumers facing elevated prices for housing, childcare, healthcare, and most groceries
Alaina Hunt, a 37-year-old designer who lost her job in Oklahoma City due to steel and aluminum tariffs
Beth Richardson, a 45-year-old from Kansas laid off from a tech sales support job in late 2023
John Mohring, a 60-year-old construction worker from Wisconsin spending $100 on groceries for himself
Brad Smith, a corn and soybean farmer in Illinois hurt by China's freeze on US soybean purchases
Construction sector workers impacted by tariffs on steel and aluminum
Pennsylvania voters and swing district residents
US farmers receiving government aid
Republicans concerned about upcoming midterm elections

What action is being taken

The White House is conducting a series of rallies aimed at bringing its economic message to voters
Trump's administration has removed tariffs from dozens of food products
The Federal Reserve has twice reduced interest rates to about 3.9%
Financial markets are expecting the Fed to cut rates further
The administration is touting its rollback of fuel efficiency standards and Trump-branded retirement accounts for children

Why it matters

The economy remains a critical vulnerability for Trump heading into midterm elections, with Democrats capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction in recent state and city elections. Despite Trump's optimistic claims, inflation remains at 3%—above the Federal Reserve's 2% target and unchanged from when he took office—while overall prices have surged 25% over five years. The disconnect between the administration's messaging that "prices are coming down tremendously" and the reality that prices are still rising (just more slowly) creates a credibility gap that affects voter confidence and could determine electoral outcomes in battleground states like Pennsylvania.

What's next

The White House plans to continue holding a series of rallies to communicate its economic message to voters
Financial markets expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates further at an upcoming meeting (referenced as Wednesday in the article)
Midterm elections will take place next year where Republicans face concerns about economic messaging

Read full article from source: BBC