White House Press Chief Defends Economic Outlook
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt defended President Donald Trump’s economic perspective amid concerns about the economy, asserting that wages have been outpacing inflation.
Leavitt highlighted Trump’s optimism about the economy, referring to remarks made shortly following the July inflation report released seven months prior.
“We are consistently seeing positive economic indicators. Today’s CPI report shows that inflation has once again defied market expectations and remains stable. Over the first six months of President Trump’s term, inflation is running at an average annual rate of 1.9,” she told the press.
The consumer price index indicated a 2.7% year-over-year increase, which was lower than expected, according to the Labor Statistics Bureau.
“The prices of everyday items are continuing to decline, particularly energy costs. For instance, gasoline prices were nearly 10% lower than last year, and propane saw a decrease of 2.5% compared to last year,” she explained. “Egg prices also dropped again in July, now down 20% since President Trump took office. Additionally, shelter inflation, which contributes largely to overall inflation, is at its lowest since October 2021.”
Leavitt emphasized wage growth under Trump, pointing out that wages are increasing at a faster rate than inflation, which suggests that Americans are generally seeing improvements in their income.
“Wage increases for American workers are outpacing inflation once more,” Leavitt stated. “As inflation declines, the administration remains committed to ensuring more financial resources for Americans. Real wages in the U.S. rose by 1.3% last year and have been climbing monthly since President Trump assumed office. This morning’s report even shows that small business optimism has reached a five-month high.”
She also encouraged Americans to disregard pessimistic views, advising them to trust Trump’s economic vision.
“Ignore the naysayers and have faith in President Trump. That’s our motto here at the White House. America’s economic agenda is indeed making progress.”
