Blue Press Journal

Tag: energy prices

  • The Cost of Trump Protectionism: Assessing the Economic Strain of 2025‑2026


    By Winston Wendell

    It has been quite an eventful year – to be more precise, the economic policy of President Trump during his second term of office is turning ordinary everyday activities into a burden. Americans jokingly refer to the current situation as “Trumpflation”. However, one might wonder what is causing the increase of prices? Let us examine the causes in detail.

    Former U.S. president giving speech at podium with 'Rising Prices' and inflation graphics behind him

    Tariffs and Price Surges

    In 2025, President Trump introduced the tariffs of 10% on imports and 60% on imports from China, claiming that it will boost production in the USA. However, economists from the Peterson Institute did not hesitate in criticizing the move as a sales tax for citizens.

    By June 2026, the level of inflation in the USA reached 6.5% which is the highest one since before COVID-19.

    One of the places where this process becomes obvious is a local supermarket. America is still dependent on foreign fertilizer, chemicals, and farming equipment. As a result, any increase in the costs of importing them makes local products more expensive. A gallon of milk cost increased by almost 80% reaching $5.10. Moreover, even staple goods and food are increasing in price faster than the rate of inflation, and families making $50,000 to $150,000 a year face this problem.

    Oil Shock: The Iran War and Gasoline

    However, things get worse overseas. By the end of 2025, Trump began to attack Iran causing the start of what became known later as “The Iran War”. This led to the closure of Strait of Hormuz which accounts for 20% of global oil transportation. As a result, gasoline prices exploded.

    As a result, in early 2026, the average price of gasoline reached $5.65 a gallon. In Arizona and in the Midwest regions, the price per gallon was $6. With the yearly mileage of 12,000 miles, one will spend additional $1,200 on gasoline. Such expenses become unbearable for families with low budgets.

    Forbes reports that small businesses suffered a great deal from the situation described above – particularly those which use trucks and ships. Many business owners decided to increase their prices, but some of them simply had to fire some workers to pay for their increased costs.

    The 2025 Tax Law: The Winners and Losers

    Also, Trump passed the tax reform legislation known as “the Big Beautiful Bill”. It was said that such legislation would benefit ordinary Americans. However, the examination of the law shows that most of the profits will not reach Americans. Corporate tax breaks which were introduced in 2017 remained unchanged, but sales and excise taxes increased drastically. The Congressional Budget Office and Tax Policy Center calculated that the 1% of the richest Americans received 65% of the total benefits, and most of other people received no or little changes to their wallets.

    Such conclusion is supported by data from the Federal Reserve. Any advantage gained from tax breaks disappeared in front of rising prices. Families with middle incomes of $100,000 decreased their disposable income by 3 to 4% between 2024 and 2026.

    How Everyone Survives

    People are talking about this problem constantly. According to the Gallup poll conducted in June 2026, 68% of Americans believe that the current trend of the national economy is heading downwards. Also, according to the survey conducted by Pew, more than 75% of Americans are worried about the food and gas prices; they blame the trade war for keeping inflation.

    What Will Happen in Future?

    The Federal Reserve announced that it will continue holding interest rates at present levels to bring prices down. However, with constant tariffs and conflict with Iran, such action seems rather fruitless. Also, based on conversations with the experts, they claim that as long as the protectionism and foreign disputes remain the focus of government policy, stagflation (a combination of slow growth and high prices) is imminent.

    Such trends cannot be overlooked. It is tariffs, foreign conflicts, and tax reforms favorable to corporations which increase the cost of goods for Americans. For America’s middle class, the slogan “America First” is becoming synonymous with spending extra money on goods and gasoline.

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  • Pointing Fingers, Missing Homes: Inside the Housing Crisis Blame Game

    Right now in American politics, the housing crisis is front and center. Vice President JD Vance recently went on The Ingraham Angle and didn’t hold back. He pinned the country’s problems with housing costs squarely on the Democrats.

    “I wish Democrats would collaborate with the administration to address housing costs, fuel prices, and other quality-of-life concerns,” Vance told Laura Ingraham.

    Bipartisanship sounds good, especially to people fed up with inaction. But if you look at what’s actually happening, the gap between what politicians say and what they do is bigger than ever. Honestly, it’s starting to feel a little hypocritical.

    Let’s talk about the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The irony here is hard to ignore. This bill is supposed to help solve the homeownership crisis. It passed both chambers of Congress, overwhelmingly. The act promises to cut down on red tape for building single-family homes and, just as important, it puts up barriers for huge investment firms that have been buying up homes and jacking up rents.

    You’d think this kind of win would bring a fast photo op and a signature. Instead, the Trump administration is dragging its feet. The White House, Donald Trump, is holding up this bill, using it as a bargaining chip for the SAVE America Act.

    The SAVE America Act? That’s the push for tougher citizenship standards on voter registration and photo ID at polling stations, a move tied to the President’s persistent, but unproven, claims of widespread voter fraud. Most critics see this as tying important economic relief to a political agenda that has nothing to do with housing.

    And this isn’t just a housing thing, it’s a pattern. On the international front, the administration keeps making bold moves, which has stoked concerns about global energy. Following recent U.S. and Israeli military actions, there’s a lot of nervous talk about the Strait of Hormuz. a chokepoint for 20% of the world’s oil. Trump’s cease fire is anything but, with drone and missiles going back and forth. 

    Every time fuel prices climb, so do construction and transportation costs. That only squeezes the housing market more. Then there’s his tariffs, which across the board raised all costs including home building materials. When leadership puts foreign policy drama and voting laws ahead of the urgent issues at home, it really undercuts their claim that they care about ordinary people’s quality of life.

    Here’s the real takeaway: You can blame the other side all you want, but holding up bills that could make a difference leaves the public stuck in the middle. If the administration actually wants that “genuine bipartisan cooperation” Vice President Vance keeps talking about, it’s time to quit using economic relief as leverage.

    Until the republicans drop their political games around this issue, the blame game is just empty talk. We know who is to blame, Trump and the GOP that refuses to hold him accountable.

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