The &#34;power&#34; of eggs continues to ferment, and the persistently high price levels in the United States have become a &#34;thorn in the flesh&#34; for the Republican Party.
In March, the price of eggs in the U.S. once again reached a historic high, leading to rising anxiety within the Republican Party over inflation issues: If the trend of high prices continues, the midterm elections in 2026 may face a rout.
As of March 3, market research firm Urner Barry's monitoring showed that the Urner Barry Egg Index, which tracks and analyzes wholesale egg prices, had reached a high of $7.38 per dozen eggs.
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Egg prices have recently become a &#34;barometer&#34; of inflation in the United States. Although egg prices are not included in the core inflation index, their special status as a daily necessity and easily measurable price characteristics make them an important reference for consumer perceptions of inflation.
Former President Trump made a high-profile promise during his campaign to lower prices starting on his first day in office, but the soaring egg prices now render Trump's initial promise pale and powerless. The latest Gallup poll from February shows that Trump's economic approval rating is only 42%, down 6 percentage points from the same period in 2017, placing him at the bottom among modern presidents. Recently, Trump has publicly focused more on immigration policy, federal agency reform, and foreign affairs. Ohio Democratic Congressman Greg Landsman criticized:
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The government is obsessed with culture wars while ignoring the pain points of people's livelihoods.
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<h2>Trump's Policy Response</h2>
To alleviate price pressures, the Trump administration initially played two &#34;policy cards&#34;: efficiency reform and increased energy production.
In terms of efficiency reform, the Trump administration relied on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk to promote federal spending cuts and streamline energy regulatory processes, attempting to enhance administrative efficiency and reduce fiscal burdens through &#34;government slimming.&#34; The effects of reducing burdens have yet to materialize, but voters have begun to express dissatisfaction with the radical reforms. Nevertheless, Republican strategists believe that over time, price issues may become a focal point for voters.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump himself firmly believes that inflation is entirely caused by energy issues, thus repeatedly emphasizing the importance of increasing crude oil production.
From the latest situation, under the pressure of President Trump's repeated calls to lower oil prices, OPEC+ ultimately decided to continue advancing its plan to restore crude oil production, which had been delayed multiple times before. On March 4, the OPEC+ statement led by Saudi Arabia and Russia announced an increase in daily production by 138,000 barrels starting in April. This is the first step in a gradual production increase plan that aims to gradually restore crude oil output
Whether the two policy cards can drive down inflation in the United States still needs time to verify, and the summer of 2025 will become a key window period.
<h2>Concerns Within the Republican Party Emerge</h2>
In the face of persistent inflationary pressure, concerns within the Republican Party are intensifying. Rich Anderson, the chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, pointed out:
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If the effects of the policy do not manifest before August, electoral punishment is inevitable.
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The latest consumer confidence has shown a downward trend. The U.S. Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index fell to 98.3 in February, marking the largest monthly decline since August 2021, hovering at the lower end of the range since 2022. Republican Senator James Lankford stated:
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The decline in consumer confidence is partly attributed to the aggressive policies following Trump's administration, especially the tariff threats.
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Senator Mitch McConnell also warned:
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Comprehensive tariffs will increase the cost of doing business in the U.S., thereby raising the prices faced by consumers.
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For the Republican Party, finding a balance between adjusting policy arrangements and responding to voter anxiety will become the most severe test before the midterm elections in 2026

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To address inflation, Trump has played the cards of efficiency reform and increased energy production, but the effects remain to be seen. The Republican Party is concerned that if the inflation issue is not alleviated before the summer of 2025, the midterm elections will be impacted

- In March, U.S. egg prices reached a historic high of $7.38 per dozen, intensifying inflation concerns within the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.  
- The rising prices, seen as a barometer of inflation, have led to declining consumer confidence, with the Conference Board's index dropping to 98.3, the largest monthly decline since August 2021.  
- Republican leaders express worries that if inflation issues remain unresolved by August, electoral repercussions could be significant, highlighting the challenge of balancing policy responses with voter concerns.

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Trump's Difficult Game: Racing Against Inflation, the Republican Party is Already Worried