Trump’s economy is continuing to squeeze working families as the MAGA agenda makes life more unaffordable for them. Today’s release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that consumer prices continued to rise in January. The new data adds to the financial pressure families have felt as Trump and Republicans gut the social safety net and refuse to address rising health care costs.
January data shows that:
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Core inflation actually rose 0.3 percent in a single month, signaling persistent underlying price pressure.
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Shelter costs, the largest share of household budgets, continued upward, contributing significantly to monthly inflation.
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Food prices climbed both for groceries and dining out.
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Utility natural gas costs were significantly higher year-over-year, adding to cost burdens for households.
The news comes in the wake of a study done by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Columbia University economists showing that American families and businesses have shouldered nearly all of the economic cost of President Trump’s tariffs. According to the study, roughly 90 percent of the tariff costs imposed in 2025 were borne by U.S. companies and consumers through higher import prices.
Trump’s tariffs functioned as a hidden tax on everyday goods, driving up prices and making life less affordable for working-class families.
“Families are getting crushed, and there is no point sugarcoating it. While the administration cherry-picks statistics, people know the financial pressure they feel every time they step outside. They’re looking for deals on groceries, trying to find ways to cut their heating costs this winter, and they’re not even thinking about going out to dinner because their budgets won’t allow it,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “Trump’s economy-wrecking MAGA agenda is the reason Americans feel squeezed. His tariffs are taxing nearly every aspect of American life, increasing costs across the board, and squeezing the most out of people with the least. We are going to make sure every family in this country knows exactly who is responsible for this pain. Trump did this. His policies did this. And we are not letting him hide from it.”
Published: Feb 13, 2026 | Last Modified: Mar 13, 2026