President Donald Trump has 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 capitalised on Trump's vulnerability on the economy in recent off-cycle votes, leaving many Republicans uneasy about next year's midterms 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.
But 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 and Trump-branded retirement accounts for children as cost-of-living fixes.
In an excerpt from an interview with Politico released on Tuesday, Trump was asked what grade he would give the economy.
A plus-plus-plus-plus-plus, he said.
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.
However, many Americans remain downbeat on the economy.
Alaina Hunt, 37, told the BBC she lost her job in April due to Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium, impacting the construction sector significantly. She noted rising grocery bills have added to her financial strain.
Beth Richardson, another affected individual, shared her distress over skyrocketing grocery prices, stating her disbelief at everyday costs.
While some supporters like John Mohring express continued support for Trump, the reality of rising living costs paints a different picture for many households. As the economy faces mixed signals, with stagnating consumer confidence contrasted against high stock market performance, the upcoming electoral landscape remains uncertain.
