Trump may have lost but don’t bet Democrats can fix the economy | What the election results cou…

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Trump may have lost but don’t bet Democrats can fix the economy

There’s not much they can do over the next couple of years to alleviate angry voters’ stress over prices

It was the economy, again. Although Donald Trump largely ignored it, voters’ acute concerns over the rising cost of living fuelled a political upheaval for the ages that is likely to deliver the biggest swing toward Democrats since Watergate, granting them the largest House majority in nearly four decades alongside their biggest edge in the Senate since 2008.

Still, having come to power promising to restore affordability, the new crop of Democrats are soon to discover that there is not much they can do over the next couple of years to alleviate angry voters’ stress over pricey gas and groceries, exorbitant mortgages and unaffordable healthcare.

What the election results could mean for gas prices, groceries, and health insurance

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The midterm election put Democrats in charge of both the House and Senate, reshaping Washington against a backdrop of rising inflation, tariffs, and conflict in the Middle East.

Democrats will take over as the majority when the new Congress is sworn in in January. The party's leaders have been critical of Trump policies as the cost of living rises in the U.S. Here's a look at the issues they will try to solve, and how their efforts could affect Americans' finances. 

Food, fuel and taxes – can the Democrats actually make life cheaper?

Two business owners, half a country apart, want the same thing for different reasons.

In Texas, Kim Hanks, who owns Tillies, a hotel, restaurant and spa business near Austin, says rising grocery and fuel costs are forcing her to raise wages for her 300 staff.

"It's been such a moving target for us on affordability," she told the BBC World Service.

In Indiana, Danny Reynolds, who runs Stephenson's of Elkhart, a clothing and bridalwear store, simply wants Washington to get its act together.

"My hope is that we can just find some consistency, some working together," he said.

"We ran on affordability, we won on affordability, and now it's our job to govern on affordability," said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on MS Now's Morning Joe.

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