President Trump made promises to lower prices on everything from gas and groceries to electricity, mortgages, prescription drugs and childcare. But how much control does a president actually have over the prices Americans pay?

Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy break down eight major price categories and examine what drives them — from energy costs and supply shocks to interest rates and federal policy.

Gas, beef, groceries, electricity and childcare have all become more expensive, while 30-year mortgage rates and prescription drug prices have moved in the opposite direction. The discussion also looks at the role of tariffs, the Middle East conflict, Federal Reserve policy and Medicare drug-price negotiations.

So which prices can a president meaningfully influence, and which are largely determined by forces outside the White House?

Everyday Economics is hosted by Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy and is brought to you by The Center Square Newswire Service.

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America is pouring money into artificial intelligence — but the productivity gains have yet to fully show up in the economy.

Employers added 162,000 jobs in August and unemployment held at 4.1%, but PhD economist Orphe Divounguy says the latest labor market data look more like a stabilization than a true rebound. Hiring remains weak, real wages are falling, long-term unemployment is rising, and the labor force is nearly a million workers smaller.

At the same time, businesses are making massive investments in AI infrastructure. Equipment and intellectual property investment accounted for a significant share of recent economic growth, while construction spending has shifted heavily toward data centers.

So where is the payoff?

Chris Krug and Orphe Divounguy examine whether AI is actually increasing productivity, why businesses are still figuring out how to use the technology, and what could happen to workers as AI changes the skills employers need. They also compare today's transition to previous technological shifts, including the adoption of electricity.

Everyday Economics is hosted by Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy and is brought to you by The Center Square.

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The U.S. economy is making a massive bet on artificial intelligence, pouring capital into data centers, chips and power infrastructure — much of it financed with debt. But the productivity payoff investors are expecting has yet to show up in the broader economic data.

Economist Orphe Divounguy explains why AI productivity growth is becoming less of an upside surprise and more of a requirement for the economy to justify the enormous investment. With roughly $40 trillion in government debt and real interest rates remaining elevated, the stakes of the AI boom are much bigger than the technology sector alone.

In this episode of Everyday Economics, Chris Krug and Dr. O break down who is ultimately carrying the risk of the AI investment boom — and why the economy may need the payoff sooner rather than later.

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Home builders are cutting prices and offering incentives, but buyers are still struggling to get into the housing market. New home sales fell to a 607,000 annual pace in July, while housing inventory jumped to 9.6 months of supply — the highest level since January. Builders are responding with rate buy-downs, closing-cost assistance and price cuts averaging about 6%.

PhD economist Orphe Divounguy explains why the housing market is increasingly split into winners and losers, with luxury homes holding up while the middle of the market — roughly $500,000 to $800,000 — remains stuck. Mortgage rates around 6.7% are making it difficult for buyers to enter the market, while builders in the South and Sun Belt face growing inventories after years of heavy construction. Meanwhile, markets in the Midwest and Northeast continue to face a shortage of housing.

Everyday Economics is hosted by Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy and is brought to you by The Center Square.

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The economy may look strong on the surface, but a closer look at the numbers reveals a much narrower and weaker expansion. In his first Jackson Hole speech, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh pointed to a 4.1% unemployment rate, strong business investment and rising corporate profits as signs of a resilient economy. But much of that growth is being driven by the massive AI buildout, while housing, construction and other parts of the economy continue to struggle.

PhD economist Orphe Divounguy explains why the U.S. economy is increasingly operating at two speeds, why roughly 80% of second-quarter GDP growth came from equipment and intellectual property spending tied to the AI boom, and why the labor market may be weaker than the headline unemployment rate suggests. With hiring near its lowest level since the aftermath of the Great Recession and the labor force shrinking, the Fed faces a difficult decision over whether to raise interest rates or wait for more data.

Everyday Economics is hosted by Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy and is brought to you by The Center Square.

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Mortgage rates could remain elevated as the bond market does the Federal Reserve’s work for it, keeping borrowing costs higher for consumers and businesses. Economist Orphe Divounguy explains what rising Treasury yields mean for mortgage rates, credit cards and the housing market. Homebuyers waiting for lower rates may be paying a price for holding off. Divounguy notes that someone who bought a typical U.S. home when mortgage rates were around 6% in February would have saved roughly $146 a month compared with those who waited. In this episode, we break down why the Fed may leave rates unchanged, how inflation is influencing the bond market, and why trying to time mortgage rates could be a costly strategy. Everyday Economics is brought to you by The Center Square Newswire Service.

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American households are feeling the squeeze as inflation continues to push up the cost of everyday life. New personal consumption expenditures data shows income is finally growing faster than spending, but consumers are still spending more than their inflation-adjusted incomes and drawing down savings to keep up.

In this episode of Everyday Economics, Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphée break down what the latest economic data means for American families — from healthcare and groceries to housing, interest rates and big-ticket purchases.

They also examine how government spending, energy costs, tariffs and higher interest rates are affecting consumers, why housing demand is weakening, and what could happen to the economy heading into the fall and next year.

In this episode:

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Job growth has slowed to roughly 34,000 jobs added per month — less than a fifth of the typical expansion-era pace of about 186,000 per month. Ph.D. economist Orphe Divounguy joins talks with Greg Bishop for Everyday Economics to break down what's driving the slowdown and what to watch for this week, including FOMC meeting minutes due Wednesday. Divounguy notes business investment growth is concentrated in AI-related sectors and data center construction, with hiring outside AI, healthcare, and parts of the Pacific Northwest largely stalled. The hiring rate is at its lowest level since around 2012, and low quit rates suggest workers currently employed are reluctant to switch jobs given limited opportunities elsewhere. Retail sales are up roughly 5% year-over-year, but Divounguy attributes most of that increase to price growth rather than higher real consumer spending, with inflation currently outpacing wage growth. On housing, Divounguy expects building permits to remain at depressed levels due to elevated mortgage rates, though housing starts could tick up as builders work through previously authorized but un-started units. Read more and follow Everyday Economics at thecentersquare.com.

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Government borrowing is never free — and taxpayers ultimately pay the bill. The Center Square publisher Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphe Divounguy break down the three ways government debt can hit American households: higher taxes, higher interest rates and higher inflation. The discussion examines why massive government borrowing can put upward pressure on Treasury yields, mortgage rates, car loans and business borrowing — while rising interest costs consume an increasingly large share of federal spending. Federal spending reached roughly $5.52 trillion, compared with $4.15 trillion in revenue, while interest costs have become one of the largest components of the federal budget. What does America's debt mean for your household, mortgage, business and purchasing power? And can economic growth actually help the country grow its way out of the debt problem? Watch the full discussion to understand how government borrowing can ultimately affect the taxpayer. #GovernmentDebt #Inflation #Taxes #InterestRates #Taxpayers #Economy #FederalDebt #MortgageRates #Finance #economics Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx

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The U.S. job market isn't collapsing — it's stuck. July payrolls fell by 23,000, while unemployment held at 4.1%. But deeper revisions to May and June erased more than 100,000 previously reported jobs, raising bigger questions about the strength of the labor market.

On this episode of Everyday Economics, Chris Krug and PhD economist Orphée Divounguy break down what the latest jobs numbers really mean for workers, businesses and the U.S. economy.

They discuss:

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