The Promise: Bringing Prices Down

During his campaign and victory speech, President Trump committed to a bold target: to reduce inflation and bring down everyday costs for American families. From fuel at the pump to groceries in the fridge, the cost-of-living squeeze was cited as one of the top issues facing households.

In particular, he pledged that prices “will come down, and they’ll come down fast”.

What the Data Show: Inflation & Consumer Prices

While inflation peaked at high levels during the pandemic era, the latest figures suggest it has moderated in many areas. However, “moderated” does not automatically equal “declined”. According to recent analyses:

• Inflation remains elevated above the long-term pre-pandemic target of around 2%. 2
• In January, key indices showing consumer prices rose faster than expected — suggesting the challenge is still present. 3

In other words: yes, the rate of increase has slowed compared with the worst of the spike — but no, there hasn’t been a broad rollback of prices across the board, at least not yet.

Gas Prices: A Mixed Picture

One of the most visible items in the price-of-living debate is petrol/gasoline. Consumers often notice changes in fuel prices quickly.

President Trump has indicated that boosting domestic energy production and declaring a national energy emergency are parts of his strategy to bring down gasoline and related costs. 4

However, globally driven factors — such as supply interruptions, geopolitical tensions, and demand shifts — still play a major role in determining fuel prices. As such, linking any specific decline to one policy or promise is complex.

Groceries & Everyday Essentials

When households say “rising prices”, often what they mean is food, groceries and other daily essentials. In a recent interview, Trump claimed grocery prices had come down. But fact-checkers note that’s not supported by the data.

In short: even though some item-to-item variation may exist (for example on sale items or particular regions), the broad trend of food cost increases remains.

The Big Question: Has the Promise Been Kept?

The short answer: Partly — but not fully.

Yes: The pace of inflation has dropped. Many families may feel some relief compared to the worst moments of the price-spike era.

No: But the dramatic, across-the-board drop in prices that many had hoped for has not materialised yet. Grocery bills are still going up in many cases; fuel remains subject to global volatility; and core inflation is still above target. Economists also warn that some of the proposed policies could carry unintended inflationary pressures. 7

What This Means for You

For shoppers and households wondering whether they should expect lower bills soon, here are a few practical points:

• Keep watching multiple categories: energy, food, rent — price changes don’t happen all at once.
• Short-term relief may be felt in one area (e.g., gasoline), but others (groceries, housing) often lag longer.
• Policy announcements (such as energy-production pushes or tariffs) can have delayed effects — some positive, some potentially inflation-raising.
• While the promise of “prices coming down fast” may not be fully realised yet, the moderation in inflation is still meaningful.