President Donald Trump will address a crowd near Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night, promoting his administration’s efforts to make America more affordable.In an article released ahead of Tuesday’s event, the White House claimed the president’s economic policies have made “substantial progress” in reversing inflation and the cost-of-living from the previous Biden administration’s policies.But in recent weeks, the president has sent mixed messaging on how he plans to tackle affordability despite campaigning heavily on the issue during the 2024 presidential election.”The word affordability is a con job by the Democrats,” Trump said in a cabinet meeting last week, dismissing concerns as a “hoax” created by Democrats.Trump has long pointed to lowered gas prices as a sign of his success at addressing rising costs. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of gas hovers around $2.95. But, experts suggest that seasonal factors, rather than the president’s own policies, are responsible for the decrease. Lower demand in winter and the switch to a cheaper “winter-blend” of gas have also contributed to current prices.Other data suggests the president’s messaging on affordability may not be landing quite yet. A recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll found that 57% of voters believe Trump is losing the battle against inflation. Experts point to housing as one big factor in the affordability crisis. A new Bankrate report highlights that 75% of homes in the U.S. are unaffordable for the typical U.S. household, a significant increase from 45% in 2019. “The math behind homeownership has completely changed for so many Americans, and that’s where the frustration comes in,” Alex Gailey of Bankrate said. “When it comes to affordability, it’s not something that’s going to quickly disappear overnight or be fixed overnight. It’s going to be slow and gradual and it’s going to take a few years.”But there may be some relief on the horizon when it comes to costs. Gailey says short-term data suggest that housing pressures have eased and may continue to do so in the new year, if more housing supply enters the market. Economists also predict that the Federal Reserve will announce an interest rate cut Wednesday, which will impact mortgage rates. More economic indicators show an uncertain economy. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report released Tuesday shows the job market is cooling, with job openings remaining steady at 7.7 million and layoffs rising to their highest level since 2023. Experts say the JOLTS data could further influence the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates.Watch more Washington News Bureau coverage of President Trump’s economic polices:

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump will address a crowd near Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday night, promoting his administration’s efforts to make America more affordable.

In an article released ahead of Tuesday’s event, the White House claimed the president’s economic policies have made “substantial progress” in reversing inflation and the cost-of-living from the previous Biden administration’s policies.

But in recent weeks, the president has sent mixed messaging on how he plans to tackle affordability despite campaigning heavily on the issue during the 2024 presidential election.

“The word affordability is a con job by the Democrats,” Trump said in a cabinet meeting last week, dismissing concerns as a “hoax” created by Democrats.

Trump has long pointed to lowered gas prices as a sign of his success at addressing rising costs. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of gas hovers around $2.95. But, experts suggest that seasonal factors, rather than the president’s own policies, are responsible for the decrease. Lower demand in winter and the switch to a cheaper “winter-blend” of gas have also contributed to current prices.

Other data suggests the president’s messaging on affordability may not be landing quite yet. A recent Harvard CAPS-Harris poll found that 57% of voters believe Trump is losing the battle against inflation.

Experts point to housing as one big factor in the affordability crisis. A new Bankrate report highlights that 75% of homes in the U.S. are unaffordable for the typical U.S. household, a significant increase from 45% in 2019.

“The math behind homeownership has completely changed for so many Americans, and that’s where the frustration comes in,” Alex Gailey of Bankrate said. “When it comes to affordability, it’s not something that’s going to quickly disappear overnight or be fixed overnight. It’s going to be slow and gradual and it’s going to take a few years.”

But there may be some relief on the horizon when it comes to costs. Gailey says short-term data suggest that housing pressures have eased and may continue to do so in the new year, if more housing supply enters the market.

Economists also predict that the Federal Reserve will announce an interest rate cut Wednesday, which will impact mortgage rates.

More economic indicators show an uncertain economy. The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) report released Tuesday shows the job market is cooling, with job openings remaining steady at 7.7 million and layoffs rising to their highest level since 2023. Experts say the JOLTS data could further influence the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates.

Watch more Washington News Bureau coverage of President Trump’s economic polices: