US voters are mixed in their assessment of Donald Trump's economy after a year in office.
The majority of those who spoke to the BBC, from different parts of the country and across various party lines, say that prices have increased significantly - some as high as super high. In contrast, they report seeing food prices fall.
Mary Anne Dagata, a 72-year-old Republican from Michigan, expressed relief that food prices had dropped since Trump returned to office. She said her budget was much tighter when gas and other basic items were more expensive, but now things are "completely come around" from where they were last year.
Anthony Landaeta, an independent voter from Minnesota, however, described himself as worried about the job market. He felt that childcare costs were particularly steep and that the administration's policies did not create enough growth to offset rising prices.
Jim Sullivan, a Republican from Indiana, believed inflation was down "allegedly," but prices for other items were super high. He felt the president could be doing more on immigration issues, which he thought might be hurting some parts of the economy.
In contrast, financial consultant Kai Christianson from Colorado said his finances were marginally ahead of last year's. He credited tax breaks with pushing earnings higher and expressed concern over the Federal Reserve's ability to manage independently.
Those interviewed, like many Americans, struggled to find work despite a job market that Trump has touted as strong. Denise Demontagnac, a 21-year-old Democrat from Maryland, said she had not been able to find a stable job since graduating from university, partly because people could not afford to hire her.
The mixed assessment of the economy and the varying levels of optimism reflect the complexity of the issue for voters in different parts of the country.
The majority of those who spoke to the BBC, from different parts of the country and across various party lines, say that prices have increased significantly - some as high as super high. In contrast, they report seeing food prices fall.
Mary Anne Dagata, a 72-year-old Republican from Michigan, expressed relief that food prices had dropped since Trump returned to office. She said her budget was much tighter when gas and other basic items were more expensive, but now things are "completely come around" from where they were last year.
Anthony Landaeta, an independent voter from Minnesota, however, described himself as worried about the job market. He felt that childcare costs were particularly steep and that the administration's policies did not create enough growth to offset rising prices.
Jim Sullivan, a Republican from Indiana, believed inflation was down "allegedly," but prices for other items were super high. He felt the president could be doing more on immigration issues, which he thought might be hurting some parts of the economy.
In contrast, financial consultant Kai Christianson from Colorado said his finances were marginally ahead of last year's. He credited tax breaks with pushing earnings higher and expressed concern over the Federal Reserve's ability to manage independently.
Those interviewed, like many Americans, struggled to find work despite a job market that Trump has touted as strong. Denise Demontagnac, a 21-year-old Democrat from Maryland, said she had not been able to find a stable job since graduating from university, partly because people could not afford to hire her.
The mixed assessment of the economy and the varying levels of optimism reflect the complexity of the issue for voters in different parts of the country.
. I mean, I know some people are doin' alright, like Kai from Colorado and Jim from Indiana, but others are strugglin' big time 
. I've got friends who are makin' ends meet, but my cousin who works in retail is still tryin' to survive 
.
. I know some folks love him and think he's doin' a great job, while others are like Denise from Maryland, just tryin' to find a stable job and make ends meet 
. I guess it just shows how complicated life is and how everyone's got their own story 
.
. We've gotta look out for those who are strugglin' 'cause that's how we build a stronger economy 
.
I mean, Trump's been saying his economic plan was gonna be a game-changer, but it looks like folks are kinda meh about it. Prices are up (super high?) for some people, but food prices have dropped? That's wild! 
I feel for Mary Anne from Michigan though - tight budgets can be tough, and if her finances were tighter last year, then things must've changed a lot.
These mixed opinions are giving me a sense of just how complex this whole situation really is 
. I'm not surprised that some ppl are strugglin' to find work, though - I've heard from friends who are in the same boat 
. It's good to hear from financial folks like Kai Christianson, though, 'cause it sounds like tax breaks are helpin' out some people's finances 
.
Anyway, I think what's crazy is that everyone's opinions are super mixed about Trump's economy. It's like, half the people love the job growth (I guess?) but prices have gone through the roof. And don't even get me started on how hard it is to find a stable job nowadays... 
I mean, I guess we should be grateful for some growth or whatever? But can't we have a more cohesive discussion without being stuck on this outdated forum? 
. I mean, it's great that some people like Mary Anne and Kai are seeing their finances improve, but at what cost? 
. If we can find a way to support those who are struggling and address the root causes of inequality, then maybe we'll start to see some real progress 
. Until then, I'm just gonna keep on keeping on and hoping for the best 
For me, it's not just about the economy; it's about how people feel personally. Like, Denise from Maryland is having a hard time finding work, that's really sad 
. But at the same time, some folks are actually doing alright financially, like Kai from Colorado. It's all about individual experiences, you know? 
. I guess what's most frustrating is that nobody seems to have a clear answer on how to balance growth with affordability 
but its like he got the prices down for food 
but then jacked up everything else. it makes sense that people would be worried about job market tho 
If Trump is not doing enough on this front, it could be hurting certain parts of the economy. But at the same time, some people are worried about job growth and those low-paying jobs not being enough to offset rising prices. It's all about striking a balance, you know? 
. I think ppl need to be more realistic about the state of our economy. We gotta talk about the real issues here, not just pretend everything's hunky dory 
.
. others are worried about job market, childcare costs and stuff like that, i feel them 
. it just goes to show how complex the economy can be, and no one's immune to its ups & downs 