Trump Says He’s Saving You Money—But Groceries Still Don’t Know That

Donald Trump is back in office—and back on social media—claiming he’s delivered major wins for the American consumer. In a recent post, he boasted, “The Trump Administration has gotten costs down, very substantially, for the American Consumer. There has never been anything like this!”

Bold words. But do the receipts match the rhetoric?

Let’s break it down.

Since Trump’s second term began in January 2025, there have been some price drops in key areas. Gas prices are down nearly 7%, and energy costs have seen a 2% dip, giving folks a little relief at the pump and on their light bills. Prescription drug prices also made headlines after posting the largest monthly decline ever recorded earlier this year. That’s real savings for families who rely on medication.

But don’t let those numbers distract from the full picture.

Trump’s aggressive new tariff policies are starting to hit hard. The percentage of imports now covered by tariffs? A staggering 71%, compared to just 2.5% before. According to economic experts, this move is expected to cost the average American household between $3,100 and $4,900 per year. Those added costs often show up quietly—on groceries, electronics, everyday essentials.

And while Trump talks about controlling inflation, the Fed’s preferred inflation tracker—core PCE—was up 2.7% in May, above the ideal 2% benchmark. Translation: prices are still rising, especially in areas like food and housing.

That might explain why consumer spending dipped 0.1% in May—people are simply tightening up.

So while Trump is taking credit for lowering prices, the real story is a lot more complicated. Yes, there have been gains on gas and medicine. But with inflation staying sticky and tariffs piling on extra costs, many Americans are still feeling the financial squeeze.