Has Trump Delivered on His Promises to Lower Prices?

Mon Nov 10 2025 22:36:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A year after his election, President Trump's commitments to tackle inflation and reduce costs for everyday Americans are re-evaluated, examining whether promises made hold true in today's economic landscape.

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of President Trump's outcomes regarding his pivotal promise to combat rising prices in the U.S. economy. Key areas such as grocery, electricity, automobile, and gas prices are assessed, revealing mixed results in relation to inflation pressures and the effectiveness of his policies one year into his presidency.

President Donald Trump was swept to power for a second time on the back of a central campaign promise to tackle inflation.

The steep rise in the cost of living was top of voters' minds and Trump blamed President Joe Biden.

He made sweeping promises to bring down prices for Americans starting on day one.

One year on from his victory, a review re-examines some of the president's claims.

Groceries

When I win, I will immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One, Trump declared during a news conference surrounded by food items.

Official data shows grocery prices rose by 2.7% in the 12 months to September 2025, with specific items experiencing sharper increases.

Coffee: 18.9%
Ground beef: 12.9%
Bananas: 6.9%

Academic experts suggest the president's influence over food prices is limited, with factors like tariffs and immigration policies impacting market conditions.

Electricity

Trump’s campaign promise to halve electricity prices has not materialized, as average residential rates have instead risen significantly since he took office.

Price increases reflect both demand and supply issues, with surges in demand driven by new technologies like data centers.

Cars

The average cost of a new car reached over $50,000, contradicting Trump's pledge to lower automobile prices.

Economic analysts highlight tariffs playing a pivotal role in boosting car prices.

Gasoline

Although Trump's initial pledge aimed to reduce gasoline prices below $2 a gallon, current prices remain notably higher, albeit with slight reductions since he assumed office.

Conclusion

While President Trump's administration has attempted measures to address inflation, the outcomes suggest a complex interaction of domestic policy and global economic factors driving prices higher across multiple sectors.