4 Everyday Expenses Trump Promised To Lower — Here’s What They Cost Now
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Brendan McGinley
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Americans have many concerns when they go to the ballot box, but one that’s paramount for most is the economy. Many Americans who feel pain at the check-out line or when perusing their bank accounts may opt for the presidential candidate who promises to lower prices. President Trump was keenly aware of this in his campaign.
“Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will make America affordable again. We’re going to make it affordable again,” said Trump in a political rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in August 2024. Despite the bold claim, prices haven’t followed suit. The truth is murky at best about whether Trump has lived up to this promise. Here are four everyday expenses Trump promised to lower and where they stand now.
Groceries
There’s perhaps nothing more painful to a household budget than going to the grocery store today. Trump made various claims that grocery prices would decrease in price once he retook office. The truth is that pricing has continued to increase during his second term.
Prices for all foods increased by 2.9% during 2025, in line with predictions by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The good news? The USDA anticipates a modest pullback in 2026.
Ground beef, eggs and coffee are leading the charge in upticks, with increases of 14%, 30.2% and 29.6%, respectively, between January and September 2025. Time will tell when these prices will peak and pull back some.
Healthcare and Prescription Costs
Healthcare and prescription costs can be burdensome for many Americans, forcing some to make difficult choices. Trump promised to lower such costs during the campaign. If the ACA subsidies expire at the end of 2025 — and it’s still in question if they won’t, according to Cleveland.com — it could cause premium prices to skyrocket. That, in turn, would force millions of Americans to go without coverage, according to USA Today.
Prescription costs, on the other hand, do show signs of a potential pullback. Trump’s recent announcement of a deal to secure reduced pricing on some GLP-1 drugs is one example, with agreements that reduce pricing from over $1,000 monthly to $350 over the next two years, according to the BBC. And, according to Reuters, the U.S. is set to announce lower prices for 15 of the most expensive Medicare drugs in the coming days. Pricing hasn’t decreased for prescription costs yet, but it may soon.
Gas
Paying at the pump is particularly painful for most Americans. Trump regularly claims that gas is around $2 per gallon nationwide. While he is opening new drilling avenues, gas prices aren’t decreasing dramatically as he promised.
The average cost of a gallon of gas was $3.10 when Trump retook office, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s currently $3.06 per gallon, so there’s been minimal improvement, not the $2 pricing Trump claims. Time will tell if the expanded drilling will drive prices lower.
Electricity
Electricity prices are another everyday expense burdening Americans. While on the campaign trail, Trump promised to cut energy costs in half by the beginning of 2026, according to the New York Times.
Unfortunately, that is not the case. In a recent Facebook post, Senator Elizabeth Warren says electricity prices have increased by 11% during Trump’s first year in office. Pricing can vary by state, but it’s clear that electric bills aren’t going down in price.
It’s easy for a presidential candidate to claim that they will lower prices on common expenses. In reality, they don’t always have control over every facet of the economy. Tracking your own costs and identifying ways to save are your best defense against rising prices.
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