Yes
I do.
No
I don’t.
Few economic issues affect American families as directly as the price of food.
Consumers encounter grocery prices every week, making food costs one of the most visible measures of whether people believe the economy is working for them. Unlike some economic indicators discussed in Washington, the grocery bill is something families experience personally.
That is why rising food costs can quickly become a political issue for any president, including President Donald Trump.
When Americans see higher prices for everyday necessities, presidents frequently receive either the credit or the blame. But determining exactly who is responsible for grocery prices is considerably more complicated.
Food prices can be affected by numerous factors, including fuel and transportation expenses, wages, weather conditions, livestock diseases, crop production, global commodity markets, supply-chain disruptions, trade policies and consumer demand. Federal policies involving taxes, regulations, tariffs, immigration and energy can also influence costs throughout the economy.
That leaves voters with an important question: How much responsibility should the president bear?
Critics of Trump may point toward administration policies they believe contribute to higher costs for businesses or consumers. They may argue that voters elect presidents partly to improve economic conditions and that the White House should consequently be judged on prices Americans encounter at stores.
Trump’s supporters may see the situation differently. They may argue that presidents inherit economic conditions from previous administrations and that many forces determining food prices are beyond the direct control of the Oval Office. They may also contend that some economic policies require time before their full effects become visible.
The political consequences can nevertheless be significant. Families generally care less about complicated economic statistics than they do about whether their paycheck stretches far enough to cover groceries, housing, gasoline, utilities and other necessities.
For many Americans, the real question is therefore not simply whether food prices have increased. It is whether Trump’s decisions are primarily responsible, partly responsible or being unfairly blamed for economic forces that would have occurred regardless of who occupied the White House.
Voters will ultimately have to make that judgment for themselves.