Inflation hits 3.7 percent, up 0.7 points since Trump took office

Inflation rose to 3.7 percent in September, up from the 3 percent rate when Donald Trump took office. The increase occurred despite the president's campaign promise to lower prices immediately. This economic shift lands one week before the midterm elections, a contest that could determine the balance of power in Congress for the remainder of Trump's term.

The cost of basic necessities has climbed sharply. Filling a Ford F-150 with fuel now costs about $100, a $30 increase from a year earlier. Mortgage rates have risen to levels that have slowed home sales. For the past twelve months, consumer prices have grown faster than wages, reducing the purchasing power of the average American household.

President Trump has downplayed the trend, claiming inflation is under 2 percent and that the country is entering a golden age. He has called affordability a con job by Democrats. However, voters in critical battlegrounds are citing rising costs as a primary reason for their discontent. They point to aggressive tariff policies and the ongoing war with Iran as drivers of higher prices.

Record-high diesel prices have increased shipping and farming costs. This has created trouble for Republicans in traditionally conservative states like Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas. In those areas, Democrats are finding competitive ground in races that will shape the final two years of Trump's presidency. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler described the situation as a double whammy for workers, noting that pay is not keeping up with the cost of living.

Misty Reeder, a 48-year-old resident of Easley, South Carolina, said her rent has increased by hundreds of dollars over the last six years. She plans to vote for all Democratic candidates. Beti Rosales, who owns a Mexican restaurant in Allentown, Pennsylvania, reported that limes, avocados, and plumbing services have all become more expensive. She is considering voting Democratic this year, stating that prices for everything have increased since she supported Trump in 2024.

Democrats have capitalized on this frustration. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff told a rally in Atlanta that it costs more than ever to fill a truck, stock a fridge, or power a home. New York candidate Cait Conley is running against incumbent Mike Lawler, reminding voters of his past advice to gauge the economy by grocery prices. In North Carolina, candidate Roy Cooper is highlighting the gap between corporate profits and household costs in his campaign ads.

Republican strategists acknowledge the pressure but point to rising median incomes and a record-setting stock market. Stephen Moore, an economic advisor to the president, said the Iran situation has had a big effect on the economy. He warned that Republicans may pay a high price for the current economic conditions, even as he urged his party to focus on the economy's strengths.