Voters were frustrated with the rising cost of living, including rent, groceries, and insurance, which they tend to blame on the party in power.
Inflation was a significant factor, as it has historically led to the defeat of incumbent politicians worldwide, making it a critical economic and political indicator.
Trump promised to fix inflation as soon as he won, but he hasn't detailed a specific plan to lower prices, only mentioning increased oil production.
The plan's aggressive economic stimulus may have put upward pressure on prices, though it also boosted job growth and a tight labor market.
Wage growth has been outpacing price growth for over a year, but cumulative price increases over the past few years have left people dissatisfied.
Tariffs could significantly raise consumer costs and invite retaliatory tariffs from trading partners, harming U.S. exports and farmers.
Mass deportations could drive up costs for industries reliant on immigrant labor, such as agriculture and construction, exacerbating labor shortages and inflation.
Tax cuts could save some people money, worsen the federal deficit, drive up long-term interest rates, and potentially make inflation control more difficult.
Uncertainty can be challenging for the economy, but the U.S. business community is resilient and will adapt to new policies as they emerge.
While the economy was a primary concern, cultural issues and a desire for change also played significant roles in voter decisions.
Suffice it to say the economy is quite complicated and making sense of the specific impact of any one policy is quite difficult. But a number of the priorities President-elect Trump has championed, including mass deportations and steep tariffs, could all lead to yet another spike in the cost of living.This episode: White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram, senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson, and chief economics correspondent Scott Horsley.*The podcast is produced by Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at *plus.npr.org/politics).Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)