President Donald Trump was re-elected with a prominent pledge to address inflation, blaming rising living costs on President Joe Biden. He claimed he would reduce prices for Americans “starting on day one.” A year following his victory, BBC Verify has reassessed some of Trump’s assertions regarding grocery prices, electricity, car prices, and gasoline.
During a news conference in August 2024, Trump stated he would immediately lower grocery prices upon taking office. Data indicates that grocery prices increased by 2.7% over the twelve months ending September 2025. Specific items like coffee rose by 18.9%, ground beef by 12.9%, and bananas by 6.9%. Besides a single decrease in April, grocery prices have risen monthly since Trump took office. Experts suggest that the president has limited control over food prices in the short term. For example, tariffs on Brazilian coffee have contributed to rising prices. Additionally, labor shortages in farming due to immigration policies may further influence prices.
Trump’s electricity pricing promise involved slashing energy bills by half within a maximum of 18 months. However, average residential electricity rates actually rose to 17.62 cents per kWh by August 2025, up from 15.94 cents in January. Experts attribute this increase to high demand driven by data centers and rising generation and delivery costs.
Trump also extended his commitment to lowering car prices. Despite this, the average price of a new car surpassed $50,000 for the first time in September 2025, marking an increase from $48,283 in January. Factors such as tariffs have been cited as key drivers of this increase.
Lastly, gasoline prices remain a significant concern, reflecting broader economic factors. As his administration addresses these issues, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will affect consumers moving forward.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgkl25734go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss