Joint Economic Committee: Families in El Paso Have Had to Spend Thousands More Under Trump Administration

Today, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) reacted to the latest report from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) detailing how the average household in El Paso has had to spend thousands of dollars more for goods and services under the Trump administration and Republican rule. Instead of working to curb inflation, policies like the president's tarriffs and his war in Iran have pushed prices even higher. “The Trump economy has had a crushing impact on our community. Families in El Paso have had to pay thousands of dollars more for goods and services as a result of devastating decisions that Donal Trump and Republicans have made over these last two years," said Congresswoman Escobar. "Despite repeated promises from Donald Trump to end inflation on day 1, his policies have increased the cost of living and created an economic crisis. This report is further proof that El Pasoans should take him and his party at his word when he says that he doesn't think about Americans' financial situations at all." According to the JEC, the price increases have affected: Housing Costs Families have had to spend an additional $281 on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office. Grocery Costs Americans paid an additional $310 for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024, and grocery prices are now more than 4% higher than when Trump took office. Beef and coffee prices are hitting Americans especially hard. Since the President took office, the average price of ground beef has risen almost every month to a record high of more than $7 per pound. Coffee prices also spiked and are now more than $9 per pound. Energy Costs Gas prices have soared since the start of Trump’s Iran War. In total, people across El Paso have spent an additional $218 million on gas since the beginning of the war. That has cost the average family in El Paso an additional $853 in gas costs. Healthcare Costs Because of Trump and Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance, monthly premiums for ACA plans rose over 50% on average in 2026 compared to last year. Meanwhile deductibles surged to record highs, increasing by more than $1,000 on average. To read the fact sheet from the JEC, click here .