Fact check: My friend is assuring me that Trump has made life much easier and affordable than life under Biden. Things like food and rent. Is he really right?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a complex and contradictory picture regarding whether Trump has made life more affordable than Biden. The evidence suggests your friend's claim is not supported by current data.

Current Economic Reality:

• Consumer prices have risen only 2.4% annually under Trump's recent policies, which is less than initially predicted ^[1]
• However, the Biden-Harris Administration period saw prices increase by 20 percent with paychecks not covering as much as they previously did ^[2]
• Biden's tenure included strong job market gains and GDP growth but was marred by high inflation and increased costs for housing, healthcare, and childcare ^[3]

Future Concerns:

• Trump's tariff policies are projected to cause significant price increases for everyday items, with estimates suggesting an average increase of $5,000 per year for middle-class families ^[4]
• As inventories of pre-tariff goods are depleted, prices may rise substantially in the coming months ^[1]

Public Perception vs. Reality:

• 46% of Americans attribute the current economic state to Trump rather than Biden ^[5]
• The economic comparison shows mixed results for both presidents, with each having distinct successes and challenges ^[6]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Housing Market Complexities:

The analyses reveal that Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act contains provisions that could both help and harm housing affordability - while extending the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, it also blocks local governments from regulating rent-setting algorithms, potentially favoring wealthy buyers and landlords ^[7].

Economic Growth Paradox:

A crucial missing perspective is that Biden's strong economic performance may have actually contributed to Trump's electoral success, as voters historically favor Republicans during periods of economic growth ^[8]. This suggests the relationship between economic performance and political perception is more nuanced than simple cause-and-effect.

Beneficiaries of Different Narratives:

• Republican politicians and Trump supporters benefit from promoting the narrative that Trump's policies are more affordable
• Wealthy landlords and buyers would benefit from Trump's housing deregulation policies ^[7]
• Senator Brian Schatz and Democratic politicians benefit from emphasizing the negative impacts of Trump's tariff policies ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Timing and Attribution Issues:

Your friend's statement contains a fundamental timing error - it attributes current affordability improvements to Trump when the analyses show that inflation and high costs were primarily issues during the Biden administration ^{[2] [9]}. The claim conflates future policy promises with current economic reality.

Selective Evidence:

The statement ignores substantial evidence that Trump's proposed tariff policies will likely increase costs significantly for food, housing, and other essentials ^[4]. It also overlooks the mixed economic record that shows both presidents had successes and failures in different areas ^[6].

Oversimplification:

The friend's assurance presents a black-and-white comparison when the analyses reveal a complex economic landscape where wages struggled to keep pace with inflation under Biden ^[9], but Trump's future policies may worsen affordability through tariffs ^{[1] [4]}. The reality is that neither administration has definitively "solved" affordability issues.