The White House says prices are falling under Trump, but official data shows most costs have gone up — bad news for households already squeezed on affordability.

• Trump claimed groceries and food are "all coming down" and gave himself an A+ on the economy; PolitiFact rated that mostly false.
• A few things got cheaper — eggs, bacon, bread, cars — but coffee, beef, produce, tuition, child care, electricity, and housing all rose.
• Gas is up 34% since Trump returned, with fuel oil, natural gas, and electricity also higher, partly from the Iran war pushing up energy and shipping costs.
• Leavitt warned Democrats would turn the country into a "communist hell hole," recycling the same name-calling tactic Democrats lost with using "fascist."
• Republican strategists admit voters care about affordability and are urging the party to pin the blame on Democrats rather than fix prices.

Outlook: Affordability is shaping up as the central fight heading into the midterms, with both parties racing to own the message.