The promise of price reductions has been a campaign staple for many politicians, including former President Donald Trump. In 2024, he ran on a platform to lower prices across the board, claiming "When I win, I will immediately bring prices down." However, reality is not always as rosy as the rhetoric.
Since taking office, Trump's administration has pointed to a "great" economy with rising stock markets, but for many regular people, things are not feeling as great. With prices on electricity up 11%, groceries up 2.7% since last year, and housing expenses still a concern, it's clear that price reductions have not materialized.
The truth is, prices rarely go down in aggregate across an entire economy. When they do, it often means the economy is in serious trouble. As Catherine Rampell, economics editor at The Bulwark, notes, "The overall price level, so like, in aggregate all of the things across an economy — that basically never comes down." This is by design, as policymakers struggle to manipulate the complex web of supply and demand.
While prices may fluctuate for individual goods and services, the overall trend is one of steady growth. The Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target is a prime example. When prices rise, it can be confusing because other aspects of the economy, like hiring and wages, may be doing well. But this doesn't change the fact that prices are increasing.
Trump's promise to lower prices has been met with skepticism from economists and everyday Americans alike. Rampell explains, "It feels like that is saying something: that maybe prices don’t just come down?" The disconnect between politicians' promises and reality is a recurring theme in economic policy.
One of the main issues is that policymakers fail to grasp the psychological impact of inflation on consumers. When wages rise due to inflation, it's often not perceived as a genuine increase in purchasing power. Instead, it feels like someone else's problem – in this case, the central bank's decision to raise interest rates.
The promise of price reductions has become a way for politicians to connect with voters who feel left behind by economic growth. But this is a fragile promise, one that can quickly turn into a self-perpetuating cycle of deflation. When prices start to fall, consumers become hesitant to spend, and businesses respond by cutting prices even further.
In the end, policymakers face an impossible task: keeping inflation under control while also addressing the concerns of everyday Americans. As Rampell notes, "There is no dial under the Resolute desk that allows them to turn prices down." Instead, they must navigate the complex web of economic indicators, supply and demand, and consumer psychology.
The question remains: can any American president really make life cheaper for us? The answer is a resounding no – at least not in the way they're promising.
Since taking office, Trump's administration has pointed to a "great" economy with rising stock markets, but for many regular people, things are not feeling as great. With prices on electricity up 11%, groceries up 2.7% since last year, and housing expenses still a concern, it's clear that price reductions have not materialized.
The truth is, prices rarely go down in aggregate across an entire economy. When they do, it often means the economy is in serious trouble. As Catherine Rampell, economics editor at The Bulwark, notes, "The overall price level, so like, in aggregate all of the things across an economy — that basically never comes down." This is by design, as policymakers struggle to manipulate the complex web of supply and demand.
While prices may fluctuate for individual goods and services, the overall trend is one of steady growth. The Federal Reserve's 2% inflation target is a prime example. When prices rise, it can be confusing because other aspects of the economy, like hiring and wages, may be doing well. But this doesn't change the fact that prices are increasing.
Trump's promise to lower prices has been met with skepticism from economists and everyday Americans alike. Rampell explains, "It feels like that is saying something: that maybe prices don’t just come down?" The disconnect between politicians' promises and reality is a recurring theme in economic policy.
One of the main issues is that policymakers fail to grasp the psychological impact of inflation on consumers. When wages rise due to inflation, it's often not perceived as a genuine increase in purchasing power. Instead, it feels like someone else's problem – in this case, the central bank's decision to raise interest rates.
The promise of price reductions has become a way for politicians to connect with voters who feel left behind by economic growth. But this is a fragile promise, one that can quickly turn into a self-perpetuating cycle of deflation. When prices start to fall, consumers become hesitant to spend, and businesses respond by cutting prices even further.
In the end, policymakers face an impossible task: keeping inflation under control while also addressing the concerns of everyday Americans. As Rampell notes, "There is no dial under the Resolute desk that allows them to turn prices down." Instead, they must navigate the complex web of economic indicators, supply and demand, and consumer psychology.
The question remains: can any American president really make life cheaper for us? The answer is a resounding no – at least not in the way they're promising.
think diagram 
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a world where prices just magically go down 
I'm starting to think politicians just use price reduction as a campaign trick, you know? "Hey, we'll lower prices" and then... nothing happens 
. It's like they think people are just gonna magically believe it and start buying more stuff because they feel good about the idea 
. Newsflash: inflation is real, folks! 
. Politicians saying they'll lower prices is kinda like saying they can control the weather 
it's hard to make the economy work that way. And let's be real, inflation is a thing 
. It's not about finding some magic number to dial down prices, it's about understanding how the economy works 
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. We need more transparency and less empty promises 
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. Now it's like $3.50... yeah, I don't miss that part of my life either.
. policymakers need to focus on addressing the concerns of everyday americans rather than making promises they cant keep 
. also, we need to understand that price reductions often come at a cost – like economic instability or supply chain disruptions 
.
And I think Catherine Rampell is right, prices don't actually go down that easily in aggregate... it's all about supply and demand and stuff 
. And can we talk about how politicians always try to tap into our emotions with promises of price reductions? Like, it's just a way to connect with us without actually having a real solution 
. Reality bites when prices don't magically decrease 
It's like politicians think we're all just gonna magically have more money to spend on stuff that's getting more expensive anyway 
️. Inflation is a natural part of the cycle, and I'm not sure anyone can honestly make life cheaper for us all 
. We should just be prepared for the ride 
i feel like trump's promise is just a big ol' joke at this point 
i mean i know he said we'll bring prices down when he wins but that was like 4 yrs ago 
. It was like, wow, times were so different 
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. It's just that making life cheaper for everyone is like trying to solve a math problem that's been around for centuries 
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. She used to say that if you want something, you just have to work hard enough for it 
. And that's still true today 
. We can't rely on our politicians to make everything cheaper; we've gotta take matters into our own hands 
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"