Core Insights - President Trump emphasized the need for McDonald's to enhance the Filet-O-Fish by adding more tartar sauce, reflecting his personal preferences and customer feedback [1] - Trump humorously claimed to be the first former McDonald's fry cook to become president, using this to contrast his experience with that of his political opponent, Kamala Harris [2][4] - The president expressed his loyalty to McDonald's, highlighting that he often chose the fast-food chain over expensive catering during his campaign [4] Economic Context - Trump addressed the issue of affordability, acknowledging that while some prices remain high, his administration has made progress in reducing costs for various food items [6][10] - He reported a 14% decrease in breakfast item prices over the past six months, with specific mentions of bread, dairy, and eggs, which have seen an 86% decline since March [11] - The president credited McDonald's for contributing to price reductions and portrayed the company as a partner in his vision for economic improvement [11][12] Market Performance - Trump noted that the stock market reached an all-time high 48 times in nine months, indicating a rebound in the economy under his leadership [11] - He expressed optimism about future economic prosperity, stating that the country is on a path to becoming "richer, stronger, prouder, and happier" [12][13]

President Trump yesterday put a vague timeline on when Americans might receive tariff dividend checks. An idea he's been floating for weeks. >> We're going to be issuing dividends later on some somewhere prior to, you know, probably in the middle of next year, a little bit later than that of thousands of dollars for individuals of moderate income, middle income.Uh we're going to pay down debt. You know, we have a lot of money from tariffs. If we didn't have tariffs, the station would be in serious trouble a ...

Economic Performance - President Trump's economic record shows strong growth with minimal inflation compared to President Biden's tenure [1][2] - Under Trump, grocery prices have risen at a 2.1% annual rate, while under Biden, they increased by 5.4% annually, cumulatively rising 23% [2][3] Wage Growth - Typical family wages have increased over 4% under Trump, outpacing grocery price increases, which have only risen 1.4% cumulatively during his 8 months [3][4] - Real wages collapsed under Biden due to grocery prices rising significantly higher than wages, whereas Trump's policies have led to wages rising faster than prices [4] Economic Policies - Trump's economic strategies, including tax cuts and deregulation, are credited with fostering supply-side growth and lower inflation, which are essential for affordability and prosperity [5] - The GDP growth rate for Trump's first quarter was 3.8%, with a forecast of 4.1% for the second quarter, indicating strong economic performance [5] Political Context - The government shutdown during Trump's presidency was perceived as an attempt by Democrats to undermine his successes, which was not well-received by the public [6]

The White House also under pressure on the economy and the issue of affordability as costs remain high, especially on grocery items despite President Trump's insistence that prices are coming down. According to NBC News's latest grocery price tracker, the price of orange juice as well as beef, bacon, and chicken are all up at least 5% compared to last year. On Friday, the Trump administration announced it was rolling back tariffs on some food products, including coffee, bananas, and beef.One of the administ ...

Is this a game changer for Ford at all to be able to sell its used vehicles on Amazon. It's sort of Ford putting a toe in the water and doing a deal with Amazon. Hyundai was the first to get on the Amazon auto's portal about a year ago and they're selling new cars.Ford is coming with its certified use cars first to see how that goes. They are getting a lot of interest from their dealers and if they do this in partnership with their dealers. But it will sort of address these issues that consumers have about ...

Inflation and Affordability Are Still Everything https://t.co/mBj85YwUT0 ...

Core Insights - The earnings report from Delta highlights a disparity in consumer spending, with premium ticket sales increasing by 5% while main cabin revenue fell by 5% [1] - Economists describe a "K-shaped economy," where affluent consumers are thriving while low-income consumers are struggling due to inflation and rising costs [2][3] Consumer Behavior Trends - Low-income consumers are reducing spending, impacting industries like food, automotive, and airlines, while wealthier customers are increasing their purchases [2][3] - Fast food chains, particularly McDonald's, have seen a significant drop in traffic from low-income households, with declines reported in double digits [4] Financial Performance and Pricing - McDonald's has experienced a 40% increase in menu item prices from 2019 to 2024, with specific items like the Big Mac rising from $4.39 to $5.29 [14] - The company attributes price increases to rising costs of labor and ingredients, particularly beef, which has seen a 13% year-over-year increase [15][14] Economic Pressures on Low-Income Households - Consumer credit delinquency rates for households earning less than $45,000 have significantly increased, indicating financial strain [8][9] - A Harvard study found that 50% of renters are cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on housing, a rise of 3.2 percentage points since 2019 [10][11] Industry Responses - McDonald's has attempted to attract cash-strapped customers with promotional deals, but initial marketing efforts did not yield immediate results [23][24] - The fast food industry is cautious about passing on higher costs to consumers, reflecting a broader concern about consumer tolerance for price increases [25]

Nearly 40% of Americans have a side gig and 61% say their life would be unaffordable without the extra income, according to LendingTree. https://t.co/cGw1iSHs7E ...

The Georgia Republican has recently criticized the administration on several issues including affordability, https://t.co/32ySxXQ2JZ ...

[Music] Welcome to Meet the Press Now. I'm Garrett Hake in Washington, where the White House finds itself on defense, facing new frustrations from President Trump's base and from voters writ large over issues tied to the economy, affordability, and accountability. Starting with new scrutiny over the president's ties to Jeffrey Epstein after a batch of newly released emails revealed that the late convicted sex offender viewed himself as the ultimate Trump insider. The president today lashing out on social me ...