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:@? 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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 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. 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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…