President Donald Trump has told a campaign-style rally that consumer prices are falling 'tremendously' as he sought to allay voter anxiety about the US cost of living.
In a speech at a casino in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, the president told supporters he had 'no higher priority than making America affordable again'.
But while gas and egg prices have fallen, other food is more expensive and Americans remain unhappy about the cost of housing, childcare, and healthcare.
Democrats have capitalized on Trump's vulnerability on the economy in recent off-cycle votes, leaving many Republicans uneasy about next year's midterms elections.
Tuesday's event in a swing district of Pennsylvania was the first of what the White House says will be a series of campaign-like rallies aimed at bringing its economic message to voters.
At one point, the Republican president portrayed concerns about affordability as a Democratic 'hoax'.
In recent weeks, his administration has removed tariffs from dozens of food products and touted its rollback of fuel efficiency standards and Trump-branded retirement accounts for children as cost-of-living fixes.
Amid his rhetoric, many Americans remain downbeat on the economy. Alaina Hunt, a 37-year-old who lost her job due to tariffs, expressed that daily expenses have surged significantly, and she feels unheard by the government. Economic data showcases a mixed picture, with consumer confidence at a low, yet the stock market remains stable. Increasing food prices and residual inflation around 3% continue to burden households, despite wage growth.
Overall, while Trump's supporters show backing, the gap between policy promises and daily economic realities remains evident.
