Overview
- Speaking at Coosa Steel in Rome, Georgia, the president said he has “won affordability” and cited a 2.4% year-over-year inflation reading as proof.
- Official CPI data show notable annual increases in key household costs, including home electricity up about 6.3%, natural gas services up 9.8%, coffee up 18.3%, and ground beef up 17.2%.
- The Labor Department reported initial jobless claims fell to 206,000 for the week ending Feb. 14, while January payrolls rose by 130,000 and unemployment registered at 4.3%.
- Government revisions lowered reported job growth for 2024–25, and multiple recent polls place the president 19 to 26 points underwater with weak ratings on inflation.
- The Georgia visit came in the district vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene ahead of a March 10 special election, as senior White House aides met this week to refine midterm strategy.