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Arthur Keller
Beavertown
We continue to hear about the Trump administration's affordability issues but are they as serious as reported?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics April 29. 2026 price comparison Biden vs Trump -- Bacon $6.84 vs $6.80, butter $4.79 vs $4.26, dozen eggs $3.65 vs $2.35 ( I just paid $1.20 for 1 1/2 dozen eggs), milk $4.14 vs $4.07, pasta $1.37 vs $1.31, potatoes $0.96 vs $0.85, ... new homes $397,600 vs $400,500, inflation 4.9% vs 2.7%, 30-year fixed rate mortgage 6.8% vs 6.3%, average gas price $3.56 vs $3.26, average diesel $4.10 vs $3.77... (Even with the conflict in Iran, I paid $3.43 at the pump recently.)
615,000 private sector jobs have been added under Trump while federal employment declined to its lowest level since 1966. Wages have increased as well as Social Security with cost-of-living increases. Inflation fell to 3.5% in June, with overall consumer prices dropping by 0.4% -- the largest monthly decline in six years. Plus, no tax on tips/overtime/SSN depending on total combined income and your state of residence, and eligible seniors 65+ get an additional deduction of $6,000 for single filers and $12,000 for married couples.
On March 13, 2026, Trump signed two executive orders aimed at improving home affordability and expanding homeownership by reducing construction regulatory barriers while promoting access to mortgage credit speeding up home building and enabling smaller banks to provide more financing in effort to lower housing costs as promised. Mortgage rates are falling and more homes are being purchased.
Since January 2025, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones have repeatedly broken all-time records, climbing 25% by mid-July 2026. Trump's policies have secured nearly $18 trillion in combined new foreign and domestic investments in America. Even if half materializes, this is $9T in his first year compared to just over $1T in four years under Biden. Also, Trump is moving the chip industry to America with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company alone investing up to $165 billion in Arizona. Foreign and domestic automakers are moving manufacturing and supply chains to the U.S. to avoid tariffs, secure supply lines and compete with overseas costs. Add the AI and data center boom. Result -- more high paying jobs.
We are only halfway into Trump's second year of his 4-year term. One thing we never had before is a businessman as president who wants to make America great. Be patient, progress takes time.