With five weeks until Election Day, the Trump administration has proposed a series of measures aimed at easing persistent inflation and consumer frustration over high food, fuel and housing costs, The Washington Post reports.
Ideas have included allowing tariff-free beef imports, restricting diesel exports and potentially sending $5,000 checks to American adults if Republicans retain control of Congress, but each has faced political or economic resistance. Farmers and ranchers opposed the beef proposal, major oil companies pushed back on the diesel plan, and some Republicans have questioned whether the proposed checks would worsen the federal deficit.
Economists say the measures are unlikely to significantly improve overall affordability, while arguing that some Trump policies have contributed to price pressures. Tariffs have raised prices for some imported goods, while immigration restrictions have made lower-cost labor harder to find, according to economists cited in the report.
Disruptions in global oil markets have also contributed to elevated energy costs, and consumer dissatisfaction is reflected in polling. Seventy-three percent of Americans in a recent CNN/SSRS poll disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 27% approved.
Economists note that politicians often pursue targeted price-cutting measures before elections, but such actions may have limited impact on broader affordability. The administration has also bought back Treasury bonds, though the payoff has been minimal. Strong private sector demand for capital, including from artificial intelligence investment, has contributed to higher Treasury yields, which can raise borrowing costs such as mortgages. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate recently reached 7%, adding another affordability challenge for consumers.
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