Washington D.C — A new report from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) – Minority details how working families have had to spend an additional $3,800 on average due to congressional Republicans’ disastrous economic policies. The report makes clear that Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration have made life more expensive for everyday Americans in virtually every area – all so they could give billionaires another massive tax break.
According to the report, Americans have spent an additional $757 on housing costs since Trump took office, $310 more on groceries in 2025 alone, and $604 more on gas costs since the start of the Iran War. Rising health care costs have been particularly stark. Republicans in Congress refused to extend ACA tax credits, and now monthly premiums for ACA health care plans saw a 50 percent increase on average since last year, and deductibles are reaching record highs.
“From reckless tariffs to an unnecessary war in Iran to cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, Republicans in Washington have done everything they can to make life less affordable for working families,” said Unrig Our Economy spokesperson Robyn Patterson. “This latest JEC report puts a number to the reality that millions of Americans are feeling: life keeps getting more expensive, while the rich keep getting richer. It’s time that Republicans in Congress to start fighting for their constituents.”
Joint Economic Committee Minority: Families in the United States Have Had to Spend $3,800+ More Under Trump.
Key Points:
- As of July 2026, the average household in the United States has had to pay an additional $3,800+ for goods and services due to rising costs under President Trump. Despite his repeated pledges on the campaign trail that his administration would “end inflation” and bring down costs for families, Trump and Republicans in Congress have instead caused costs to continue to rise significantly, including through Trump’s reckless tariffs and war in Iran.
- American families have had to spend an additional $757 on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office.
- Americans paid an additional $310 for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4 percent higher than when Trump took office.
- Beef and coffee prices are hitting Americans especially hard. Since the President took office, the average price of ground beef has risen almost every month to a record high of more than $7 per pound. Coffee prices also spiked and are now nearly $10 per pound.
- Gas prices have soared since the start of Trump’s Iran War. In total, people across the United States have spent an additional $72 billion on gas since the beginning of the war. That has cost the average family in the United States an additional $604 in gas costs.
- Families in the United States spent an additional $110 on electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. And, in just the first six months of 2026, they are expected to spend an additional $113 on electricity than they did in the first half of 2024.
- Because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance, monthly premiums for ACA plans rose over 50 percent on average in 2026 compared to last year.
- Meanwhile deductibles surged to record highs, increasing by more than $1,000 on average.
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.