Former US labour secretary Robert Reich has urged Democrats to make the rising cost of living the central issue of the November midterm elections, asking voters a question once used by Ronald Reagan: “Are you better off now than you were before this presidency?”
In an opinion piece published in The Guardian, Reich argued that most average Americans would answer “No”, pointing to tariffs, higher energy and food costs, healthcare cuts and growing household expenses under President Donald Trump.
Reich cited Yale Budget Lab estimates that Trump’s tariffs are costing the average US household about $1,100 a year, while prices of household furnishings, clothing and other essentials have also risen. He argued that tariffs have added to inflation and increased the cost of major purchases such as cars and new homes.
Energy costs, he said, have compounded the pressure. Citing analysis by The Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers, Reich noted that average monthly utility bills had reached $280 in early 2026, up 12% from the end of 2024. He also blamed the administration’s energy policies for favouring “costlier, dirtier fossil fuels”.
Reich said the economic strain extended to groceries and healthcare, arguing that cuts to Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act had disproportionately affected ordinary Americans while Trump’s tax cuts largely benefited corporations and wealthy households.
He also challenged Trump’s claim that the US economy is performing strongly, saying the stock market boom primarily benefits wealthy investors. “Most Americans live on Main Street and own few if any shares of stock,” he wrote.
Reich pointed to weakening consumer sentiment and July job data showing a loss of 23,000 jobs and slower wage growth as further evidence of economic pressure.
His advice to Democrats was to avoid being drawn into debates over “socialism” or “woke” politics and instead focus relentlessly on household finances.
“Just ask this simple question: are you better off now than you were before this presidency?” Reich wrote, arguing that Democrats should explain how Trump’s policies have hurt “average working people” and urge voters to act on their economic interests in November.
