Five years ago, groceries, rent, gas, and healthcare all cost a lot less. Today, prices are roughly 25% higher than they were then, and for many families, it feels relentless.

President Donald Trump has made it clear that is he making affordability a defining priority.

Trump is betting that directly confronting the cost-of-living crisis — especially housing, credit-card debt, energy, and food prices — can ease household pressure and restore confidence before the midterm elections, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The shift has produced a slate of proposals that break sharply with Republican orthodoxy, unsettle Wall Street allies, and borrow from ideas long associated with liberal Democrats.

The White House continues to point to economic growth, low unemployment, easing mortgage rates, and falling gasoline prices — now averaging about $2.80 a gallon, according to AAA.

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Average wages, in fact, are growing faster than prices.

But that macro picture hasn’t changed how people feel when they open their bills. Economists say that even slower inflation doesn’t erase the shock households absorbed over the past several years.

“Even though the rate of price increases has moderated, people are still very anxious about the higher cost of necessities,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.

Trump’s Affordability Push

In recent weeks, Trump has rolled out proposals aimed at boosting spending power, lowering borrowing costs, and pressuring industries he says are driving prices higher — from Wall Street and Big Tech to energy producers and the Federal Reserve.

The ideas range from aggressive government intervention in housing and finance, to tax cuts, to tariff rollbacks designed to put cash directly into Americans’ pockets.

Below is a breakdown of the president’s major affordability proposals:

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Trump’s Cost-of-Living Plan — At a Glance

• Ban institutional investors from buying private homes
  Aimed at easing the housing shortage and reducing competition for first-time buyers by blocking large investors from snapping up single-family homes.
• 10% cap on credit-card interest rates
  Designed to reduce the burden on households carrying high-interest debt; analysts estimate it could save Americans up to $100 billion a year in interest payments.
• Venezuelan oil to increase supply and lower prices
  Trump has floated plans to exert influence over Venezuelan oil production, betting that increased supply would drive down global oil and gasoline prices.
• $2,000 tariff refund to Americans
  The administration has proposed using tariff revenue to fund payments of at least $2,000 to most Americans, providing a direct cash boost.
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buying $200 billion of mortgage bonds
  The Trump admin has directed the government-backed mortgage giants to buy bonds in an effort to lower mortgage rates by an estimated 0.2 to 0.25 percentage point.
• Ongoing pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates
  Trump has repeatedly criticized Fed Chair Jerome Powell and pushed for deeper rate cuts to stimulate borrowing and spending.
• Tax data centers’ use of electricity
  Targeting large tech companies to prevent data centers from driving up power demand and household electric bills.
• Lift tariffs on food staples
  Aimed at lowering grocery prices by reducing import costs on essential foods.
• Tax cuts in the “One Big Beautiful Bill”
  The administration says many tax benefits in the new tax-and-spending law will show up in paychecks and refunds this year, making the relief more visible than past tax cuts.
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Housing, Debt & Energy

Housing has emerged as a focal point. Trump says banning large investors from buying single-family homes would be his administration’s first major move to confront the nation’s housing shortage. Legal experts say congressional approval would likely be required.

On consumer debt, Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit-card interest rates is among his most dramatic departures from free-market norms.

While economists say it could significantly reduce interest costs, critics warn it could lead lenders to cut off access to credit for lower-income borrowers, pushing some toward payday loans.

Energy is another front. Trump has touted falling gasoline prices and argued that greater oil supply — including from Venezuela — could deliver further relief. He has also singled out data centers, saying Americans should not pay higher electricity bills because of Big Tech’s power demands.

Skepticism and Political Reality

Not everyone is convinced the proposals will translate into meaningful relief.

House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the likelihood of Congress passing a credit-card rate cap, cautioning against taking every Trump proposal as imminent legislation. Economists say many of the ideas would take time to implement and may not move prices enough to change voters’ perceptions before November.

White House officials stress that record tax refunds expected this filing season — combined with falling gas prices and easing rates — could finally make relief feel tangible.

“Will there be households who find their paycheck goes further? Yes,” said Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute.

But Strain warned some policies could backfire if credit becomes harder to access.

For now, Trump is leaning into the frustration millions of Americans feel every time they shop, fill up their tank, or pay their bills — betting that confronting the cost-of-living crisis head-on will resonate more than rosy economic statistics ever could.