Trump’s promise to lower grocery prices officially broken

On the campaign trail a year ago, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump promised to “immediately” bring down grocery prices, “starting on Day One.” However, a review of prices by Nexstar reporters across the country, combined with federal data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), shows that grocery costs have remained elevated in 2025 and in many cases have edged higher, despite the president’s promises, Knewz.com has learned.

Grocery costs rise almost every month

According to BLS data, grocery costs have risen almost every month since Trump took office in January. Food-at-home prices increased between 0.2% and 0.4% nearly every month, with April as the lone exception, when they dipped by 0.1%. Overall, prices are up about 3% year-over-year. Local store checks in San Jose, Milwaukee and Bismarck reflected these national averages. Items with long shelf lives, such as packaged cookies, stayed roughly the same in price. Seasonal products, however, told a different story. Fresh fruits like strawberries were significantly cheaper in the summer months compared to February, showing how availability affects consumer costs.

Egg prices on decline, but still remain ‘historically high’

Egg prices soared last year following an avian flu outbreak that devastated flocks. Those prices were expected to remain high into 2025, and some restaurants even charged customers extra for egg-based meals. Since spiking in March 2025, egg prices have started to ease, although they remain elevated compared to historical averages. The latest Consumer Price Index shows egg costs are up 27% between June 2024 and June 2025. However, at the same time, prices fell nearly 11% from May to June this year, offering shoppers some short-term relief.

Beef prices surge

Experts warned in early 2024 that shrinking cattle inventories, the lowest since 1951, would push beef prices higher. According to reports, drought conditions and the rising costs of maintaining herds compounded the problem. This year, additional factors, including tariffs and a flesh-eating screwworm infestation, have driven beef costs even higher. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that beef prices have jumped more than 8% since January. On the Consumer Price Index, beef and veal are up over 10% compared to last year, with prices rising 2.5% between May and June alone.

America stressed over rising grocery prices

According to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 50% of Americans say groceries are a “major” source of stress, while 33% report it as a “minor” one. Only 14% are not stressed about food costs. While older adults tend to face less anxiety about housing or savings, their stress about grocery prices matches that of younger people. The findings come as inflation, stagnant wages and broader financial pressures — especially among younger and low-income Americans — continue to affect daily living. The poll found that 64% of Americans with household incomes under $30,000 a year experience major stress about food costs. However, even among households earning $100,000 or more, only 1 in 5 say grocery prices are not a worry at all.

The post Trump’s promise to lower grocery prices officially broken appeared first on Knewz.