InProgress

from the Center for American Progress

CAP's plan to bring down grocery costs 

Photo: Getty Images

Over the past few years, Americans have faced sticker shock at the grocery store. The price of groceries is up 30 percent since January 2020, and the typical family of four is now spending more than $1,000 per month at the grocery store.

The Trump administration has only made things worse since retaking office. The administration’s policies on tariffs and immigration, and massive cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), have left families paying more at the grocery store and left farmers to grapple with labor shortages and disruptions in the agriculture industry.

To lower costs at the grocery checkout and give wages a chance to catch up with recent price increases, CAP has a bold new plan to bring down food costs for families. 

This plan includes three major components: 

• Provide immediate relief through a negotiated, temporary price cap on core grocery items to help wages catch up to food costs.
  
• Increase competition and protect consumers from abusive practices. 
  
• Empower farmers to grow more food and expand their market access to help prevent future price shocks.
  

The Washington Post highlighted that with our plan, it is “estimated that consumers nationwide could save a maximum of about $13 billion.”

This strategy would save the typical family of four an average of $134 per year over two years by providing stable prices while also cracking down on anticompetitive practices among the industry’s largest players and making the food system more resilient and fair for farmers, smaller businesses, and consumers alike. 

How we can stop price spikes at the grocery store

The Trump administration’s actions are increasing utility bills in Michigan

Photo: Getty Images

During his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised to cut energy prices in half within 12 months of taking office. However, millions of customers across the country are either already paying more for their electricity or will see higher prices in 2026 and beyond.

The Trump administration’s policies have resulted in high costs for consumers, yet they continue to create an environment that:

• Increases economic uncertainty through the use of tariffs
  
• Restricts federal funds for necessary grid investments
  

Due to the Big Beautiful Bill, energy bills for Michigan households will increase by

$160 

per year by 2030

$320 

per year by 2035

DTE Electric Co. and Consumers Energy together serve 82 percent of the state’s electric utility customers, and they are seeking approval for large annual revenue increases that would further increase electric bills as early as this month. If approved, their customers will pay an additional $3 billion across all sectors through 2028. In their applications, the two companies cited several federal policies and Trump administration actions that are contributing to higher costs for both the companies and their customers.

The Trump administration is attacking freedom of the press

Freedom of the press is under attack—from the Trump administration's arrest of Don Lemon to the CBS decision to pull Stephen Colbert's interview with James Talarico. At a CAP event this week, Jim Acosta called out big media corporations that are seemingly bending the knee to the Trump administration.