President Donald Trump told a campaign-style rally that consumer prices are falling tremendously as he sought to allay voter anxiety about the US cost of living.
In a speech at a casino in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, the president told supporters he had no higher priority than making America affordable again.
But while gas and egg prices have fallen, other food is more expensive and Americans remain unhappy about the cost of housing, childcare, and healthcare.
Democrats have capitalized on Trump's vulnerability on the economy in recent state and city votes, leaving many Republicans uneasy about next year's midterm elections.
Tuesday's event in a swing district of Pennsylvania was the first of what the White House says will be a series of campaign-like rallies aimed at bringing its economic message to voters.
At one point in his remarks, the Republican president again portrayed concerns about affordability as a Democratic hoax.
In recent weeks, his administration has removed tariffs from dozens of food products and touted its rollback of fuel efficiency standards as cost-of-living fixes.
Trump's lighthearted take on the economy comes while Americans like Alaina Hunt, who lost her job due to tariffs impacting the construction sector, share stories of financial strain due to increasing grocery prices.
In a sign the policy pivot might be cutting through, Trump's approval rating rose three points to 41% in a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.
While some economic indicators show promise, the general sentiment remains skeptical as consumer confidence has reported a decline. Moreover, wages have not risen enough to keep pace with the overall 25% increase in prices over the last five years.
The rally illustrates the administration's attempt to reshape narratives about the economy as many voters exhibit deepening concerns regarding their financial stability.
