AP Spotlight The latest inflation report shows that high prices are Trump's major economic challenge JOSH BOAK and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Associated Press Feb 13, 2025 Feb 13, 2025 Updated Aug 19, 2025 0 Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON — As a candidate last year, Donald Trump suggested he could easily conquer inflation and ease voters' fears about the economy.kAmQx H:== G6CJ BF:4<=J 567=2E6[Q 96 AC@>:D65 2E 2 r2=:7@C?:2 C2==J] Q(6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 :?7=2E:@?[ 2?5 H6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 567=2E6 :E] (6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 567=2E6 :?7=2E:@?] (6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 56762E :?7=2E:@?] (6VC6 8@:?8 E@ <?@4< E96 96== @FE @7 :?7=2E:@?]Qk^AmkAm(65?6D52JVD 4@?DF>6C AC:46 :?56I C6A@CE D9@H65 E92E :?7=2E:@? :D AF?49:?8 324< — 2?5 !C6D:56?E %CF>A 4@F=5 6?5 FA 724:?8 E96 D2>6 492==6?86D E92E 5C28865 5@H? 9:D AC65646DD@C[ !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?]k^Am kAm%96 2??F2= :?7=2E:@? C2E6 92D C:D6? :? E96 E9C66 >@?E9D D:?46 E96 }@G6>36C 6=64E:@? E@ bT[ H:E9 82D@=:?6 AC:46D 4=:>3:?8 56DA:E6 %CF>AVD 4=2:>D E92E 9:D C6EFC? E@ E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 H@F=5 D:8?2= :?4C62D65 @:= AC@5F4E:@? E92E H@F=5 =@H6C 6?6C8J 4@DED]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth's Democratic Party finds new life 100+ Smyth residents develop action plan to address opioid addiction crisis Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements U.S. Sen. Warner visits Marion, holding discussion about Blue Ridge Job Corps A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Federal appeals court examines Liberty University firing over gender transition Smyth schools prepare to welcome Pre-K, kindergarten students at registration State education leaders bring listening tour to SWVA Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Spanberger appoints 65 Virginians to state boards and commissions Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel Statue of Trump and Epstein briefly shows up in downtown Charlottesville Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond kAm%CF>A 7C6BF6?E=J >2<6D 72C\C6249:?8 2DD6CE:@?D 23@FE 9:D A@H6C E@ 3C:?8 23@FE 492?86 @?=J E@ 7:?5 E92E :E :D ?@ >2E49 7@C >2C<6E 7@C46D] xEVD 2 9F>3=:?8 C6>:?56C E92E 6G6? &]$] AC6D:56?ED 2C6 DF3;64E E@ E96 :?G:D:3=6 92?5 @7 DFAA=J 2?5 56>2?5[ C2E96C E92? E96 >2DE6CD @7 :E]k^Am kAmr@?DF>6C D6?E:>6?E >62DFC6D DF886DE E96 AF3=:4 2=C625J D66D %CF>AVD A=2?D E@ 6IA2?5 E2C:77D 2D :?4C62D:?8 :?7=2E:@?] ~? (65?6D52J[ E96 AC6D:56?E 42==65 7@C :?E6C6DE C2E6 4FED[ 6G6? E9@F89 C2E6 9:<6D 3J E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6 96=A65 =@H6C :?7=2E:@? E92E DA:<65 2E 2 7@FC\564256 9:89 :? a_aa]k^Am kAm%96 =2E6DE 4@?DF>6C AC:46 7:8FC6D 92G6 F??6CG65 64@?@>:DED 2?5 E96 7:?2?4:2= >2C<6ED 3642FD6 E96J DF886DE E92E DEC@?8 4@?DF>6C DA6?5:?8[ D@=:5 ;@3 82:?D 2?5 2 72==:?8 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 4@F=5 C6:8?:E6 :?7=2E:@?] $E625J 56>2?5[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7C@> H62=E9:6C 4@?DF>6CD[ >2<6D :E 62D:6C 7@C 4@>A2?:6D E@ <66A C2:D:?8 AC:46D]k^Am kAm%96 4@DE @7 8@@5D — :?4=F5:?8 E@JD 2?5 2FE@ A2CED — C@D6 =2DE >@?E9 6G6? 367@C6 E96 :>A@D:E:@? @7 E2C:77D] %CF>A 92D A=2465 `_T E2C:77D @? r9:?2[ :? 255:E:@? E@ 2??@F?4:?8 E96 C6>@G2= @7 6I6>AE:@?D @? 9:D a_`g DE66= 2?5 2=F>:?F> E2C:77D] %96C6 2C6 2=D@ A@E6?E:2= E2C:77 9:<6D @? r2?252 2?5 |6I:4@ 2?5 2 A@E6?E:2= 6I64FE:G6 @C56C E92E H@F=5 :?4C62D6 E2C:77D E@ >2E49 E96 :>A@CE E2I6D 492C865 3J @E96C 4@F?EC:6D]k^AmkAmp== @7 E9:D >62?D E92E 32D6=:?6 :?7=2E:@?2CJ AC6DDFC6D 4@F=5 36 2E E96:C 9:896DE =6G6= :? 564256D]k^Am kAmQs:D:?7=2E:@? >2J 36 5625[ 2?5 H6 >2J 36 =@@<:?8 2E 2 9:896C C2E6 @7 :?7=2E:@? E92? H6 @3D6CG65 7@C E96 a_ J62CD AC:@C E@ E96 A2?56>:4[Q D2:5 y@D6A9 qCFDF6=2D[ 49:67 64@?@>:DE 2E #$|[ 2 E2I 2?5 25G:D@CJ 7:C>]k^Am kAm%CF>AVD 42== 7@C =@H6C C2E6D AFED 9:> :? @AA@D:E:@? E@ u65 r92:C>2? y6C@>6 !@H6==]k^AmkAmQx7 :?7=2E:@? 8@6D FA :? 86?6C2=[ H6 H:== FD6 @FC E@@=D[ H9:49 :D E96 :?E6C6DE C2E6[ E@ 3C:?8 :E 324< 5@H? E@ aT @G6C E:>6[Q !@H6== E@=5 2 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 4@>>:EE66 @? (65?6D52J] !@H6== 2=D@ D2:5 E92E %CF>AVD 42==D E@ =@H6C C2E6D H@F=5?VE DH2J E96 u65]k^Am kAm$@ 72C[ E96 %CF>A (9:E6 w@FD6VD >2:? C6DA@?D6 E@ E9:D 492==6?86 92D 366? E@ 3=2>6 q:56?[ 2? 2C8F>6?E H:E9 2 D9@CE =:76DA2? 2D %CF>A :D 6I6CE:?8 >@C6 4@?EC@= @G6C 64@?@>:4 A@=:4J]k^AmkAmQ%96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :?5665 =67E FD H:E9 2 >6DD E@ 562= H:E9[Q (9:E6 w@FD6 AC6DD D64C6E2CJ z2C@=:?6 {62G:EE D2:5 2E (65?6D52JVD ?6HD 3C:67:?8] QxEVD 72C H@CD6 E92? x E9:?< 2?J3@5J 2?E:4:A2E65]Qk^Am kAmqFE %CF>A 2==:6D 2C6 2=D@ DE2CE:?8 E@ 7=@2E ?6H :562D 7@C E24<=:?8 :?7=2E:@?] $E2?5:?8 :? E96 ~G2= ~77:46 @? %F6D52J[ 3:==:@?2:C6 t=@? |FD<[ E96 9625 @7 E96 AC6D:56?EVD s6A2CE>6?E @7 v@G6C?>6?E t77:4:6?4J[ AC@A@D65 S` EC:==:@? :? DA6?5:?8 4FED E9:D J62C]k^Am kAm|FD<[ E96 H@C=5VD C:496DE >2? H9@ 4@?E:?F6D E@ 4@?EC@= %6D=2[ ) 2?5 $A246) 2>@?8 @E96C 4@>A2?:6D[ H2?ED E@ 6=:>:?2E6 S` @FE @7 6G6CJ Sf DA6?E 3J E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E :? @C56C E@ 3C:?8 E96 :?7=2E:@? C2E6 E@ K6C@] xEVD ?@E 4=62C 32D65 @? =2HDF:ED 2?5 r@?8C6DDV C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C 8@G6C?>6?E 7F?5:?8 E92E |FD< 42? 56=:G6C E9@D6 D2G:?8D]k^AmkAmQx7 J@F 4FE E96 3F586E 567:4:E 3J 2 EC:==:@? 36EH66? ?@H 2?5 ?6IE J62C[ E96C6 :D ?@ :?7=2E:@?[Q |FD< D2:5] Qp?5 :7 E96 8@G6C?>6?E :D ?@E 3@CC@H:?8 2D >F49[ :E >62?D E92E :?E6C6DE 4@DED 564=:?6] $@ 6G6CJ@?6VD >@CE8286[ E96:C 42C A2J>6?E[ E96:C 4C65:E 42C5 3:==D[ 2?JE9:?8[ E96:C DEF56?E 563E[ E96 >@?E9=J A2J>6?ED 5C@A] %92EVD 2 72?E2DE:4 D46?2C:@ 7@C E96 2G6C286 p>6C:42?]Qk^Am kAm$F49 2 DE66A 4FE >:89E 3C:?8 =@H6C AC:46D 3FE 2=D@ E96 A2:? @7 2 D92CA 64@?@>:4 5@H?EFC?]k^Am kAmQ%92E H@F=5 36 2 C@F89=J cT @7 vs! 4FE E@ 7656C2= DA6?5:?8[ 2== :? @?6 J62C[Q D2:5 |:4926= {:?56?[ 2 D6?:@C A@=:4J 76==@H 2E E96 (2D9:?8E@? r6?E6C 7@C tBF:E23=6 vC@HE9] QxE H@F=5 36 2? :?DE2?E C646DD:@?]Qk^AmkAmu@C ?@H[ >2C<6ED 2C6 2?E:4:A2E:?8 >@C6 :?7=2E:@? 2D 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5 DE2JD DEC@?8 2?5 %CF>A 92D J6E E@ D9@H 9@H 6I24E=J 9:D A@=:4:6D H@F=5 <66A AC:46D =@H[ 2D 96 AC@>:D65 E@ G@E6CD]k^Am kAm%96 J:6=5 @? E96 `_\J62C %C62DFCJ ?@E6 ;F>A65 (65?6D52J E@ c]eaT :? C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 :?7=2E:@? C6A@CE[ 2 D:8? E92E :?G6DE@CD 6IA64E :?E6C6DE C2E6D[ 8C@HE9 2?5 :?7=2E:@? E@ 36 9:896C :? E96 4@>:?8 >@?E9D]k^Am kAmr@?DF>6CD 2=D@ D2J E92E :?7=2E:@? H:== C:D6] p>6C:42?DV 6IA64E2E:@?D @7 :?7=2E:@? @G6C E96 ?6IE J62C 92G6 D@2C65[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:49:82?VD 4@?DF>6C D6?E:>6?E DFCG6J] %96 u63CF2CJ DFCG6J D2:5 E92E :?7=2E:@? E9:D J62C H:== 36 c]bT[ FA D92CA=J 7C@> b]bT E96 AC6G:@FD >@?E9] |2?J C6DA@?56?ED >6?E:@?65 E2C:77D 2D 2 4@?46C?]k^AmkAm(96? 2D<65 (65?6D52J H9J %CF>AVD 42== 7@C =@H6C :?E6C6DE C2E6D H@F=5 E6>A6C :?7=2E:@?[ {62G:EE 7@4FD65 @? H92E E96 AC6D:56?E QH2?EDQ :?DE625 @7 H92E 96 H@F=5 5@]k^Am kAmQw6 H2?ED :?E6C6DE C2E6D E@ 36 =@H6C[Q D96 D2:5] Qw6 H2?ED :?7=2E:@? E@ 36 =@H6C] p?5 96 36=:6G6D E92E E96 H9@=6 @7 8@G6C?>6?E 64@?@>:4 2AAC@249 E92E E9:D 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D E2<:?8 H:== C6DF=E :? =@H6C :?7=2E:@?]Qk^Am 0 Comments Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story What to know about the federal workforce under Trump Here's what to know about the federal workforce, its job protections and the process of cutting back on its ranks. As egg prices soar, grocers scramble to limit how many cartons customers can buy Empty egg shelves are more common across the U.S., as a bird flu outbreak has taken a tremendous toll on poultry since it began in 2022. Trump signs executive order to continue downsizing federal workforce President Donald Trump made a rare appearance Tuesday with Elon Musk in the Oval Office before signing an executive order to continue downsizi… Trump has unleashed chaos by distraction upon the international community. That's no accident Trump has unleashed chaos by distraction around the world. The result — foreign leaders are scrambling to respond and regular people are wonde… Hot off the Wire playlist Watch Now: Related Video Two people killed in collision between a jet and vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport New photos of Neil Armstrong from the Gemini 8 mission released AP New photos of Neil Armstrong from the Gemini 8 mission released Defense Minister Katz says Israel and the US will step up attacks on Iran AP Defense Minister Katz says Israel and the US will step up attacks on Iran Direction of Middle East War Unclear Amid Mixed Messages Direction of Middle East War Unclear Amid Mixed Messages
What to know about the federal workforce under Trump Here's what to know about the federal workforce, its job protections and the process of cutting back on its ranks.
As egg prices soar, grocers scramble to limit how many cartons customers can buy Empty egg shelves are more common across the U.S., as a bird flu outbreak has taken a tremendous toll on poultry since it began in 2022.
Trump signs executive order to continue downsizing federal workforce President Donald Trump made a rare appearance Tuesday with Elon Musk in the Oval Office before signing an executive order to continue downsizi…
Trump has unleashed chaos by distraction upon the international community. That's no accident Trump has unleashed chaos by distraction around the world. The result — foreign leaders are scrambling to respond and regular people are wonde…
