Affordability vs economy is not about semantics; both are true at the same time

 Affordability vs economy is not about semantics; both are true at the same time. Why the disconnect? Trump may be touting his great economy, but those concerned about having enough money to pay for the basics have been left out of his "economy". Update: 12/18/2025: Consumer prices rose 2.7 percent in the past 12 months. Consumer Price Index Summary - 2025 M11 Results

U The Trump administration's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) resulted in a shift of wealth toward the wealthiest Americans and corporations, the "greatest upward transfer of wealth in American history," some say, and Trump made affordability worse by his tariffs and cutting everything from SNAP to Obamacare. However, those who live paycheck to paycheck or barely make ends meet, at least 40% of Americans, are those for whom the term "affordability" means something, and the term "economy being great" looks like a lie by an out-of-touch president. Polls and rece/nt off-year election wins by those who made affordability their top issue show that the political chickens have come home to roost.

Fact checking Trump's address 12/17/25 PolitiFact | Fact-check: President Trump’s speech on inflation, wages, military dividend

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Failed To Deliver Promised Benefits - Center for American Progress

When I compared my expenses from February 2025 to November 2025, what stood out to me was a significant spike in my electric company costs. I belong to a rural provider that is non profit and provides excellent service, so I could not blame greed or bad management. Nonetheless, the cost rose. What and why? This from CBS was comprehensive and a part , not the largest part ,of the reasons had to do with a variety of Trump initiatives. Otherwise there are a large variety of pressures on prices. Why utility bills are rapidly rising in some states - CBS News