Staff Reports
It seems like President Trump is gearing up for a year of economic action, much to the delight (or horror) of various political factions. Inflation’s slowdown to 2.7% has given the current administration a morale boost, as they’ve now got a solid talking point to parade around. Apparently, bringing it down from 3% is more than enough reason to celebrate with what can only be termed as a “victory lap.” You can almost hear the cheers now: “We inherited a historic mess and now look! Practically no inflation!” Well, perhaps a touch of hyperbole is a necessary ingredient in politics.
With inflation declining, albeit minimally, President Trump is making bold promises for the upcoming year. He plans to introduce tax cuts and what he calls “warrior dividend checks.” Additionally, he’s hinting at some aggressive housing reforms. One can’t help but wonder whether all this will manifest as planned or if it’ll stay just that—a plan. There’s even talk of potentially declaring a national emergency over the housing situation, in an effort to care for homeowners who’ve seen the value of their property soar beyond their wildest dreams or misfortunes.
Despite these ambitious plans, a recent poll suggests not everyone is singing hallelujah just yet. Only 39% of voters are on board with Trump’s handling of the economy, while a significant 58% believe he’s barking up the wrong tree. Interestingly, that’s a similar approval rate to former President Biden’s economic strategy four years ago. Nothing quite rings as loud in politics as a bit of historical irony, especially when figures and ratings seem to be as aimless as a spinning compass.
Bringing in economic perspectives, critics argue there’s a significant battle between ‘facts’ and ‘feels’ when deciphering economic data points. Americans, after all, might care more about what’s in their bank accounts than abstract economic scores that may or may not directly affect their wallets. And who wouldn’t want higher wages and more take-home pay, as opposed to the notorious Democrat tendency to elevate taxes? Republicans are doing their level best to secure lower taxes at both federal and state levels.
It’s worth mentioning that while inflation appears to be improving, it doesn’t essentially translate to prices decreasing. It’s more about them not rising as fast. Yet somehow, the dream of price reductions akin to scenarios involving unicorns and leprechauns seems to captivate attention. The most realistic hope lies in deregulation—which could potentially lead to lowering costs in specific industries. But let’s not hold our breath for gas prices to decay to what they once were. With all these grand economic plans, one can only think optimistically about 2026, with the slight side-eye that comes with years of political promises.
