Inflation numbers show Trump Administration energy policies “infecting” the nation’s economy
Two NRDC analyses put costs of administration's energy agenda into perspective, nationally and across nine states
WASHINGTON, DC (October 14, 2026) — Inflation rose at an annual rate of 3.7% last month as energy prices soared, according to the latest Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released today.
Following is a reaction from Manish Bapna, President of NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“The Trump Administration’s slanted energy policies have begun to infect the entire economy. For the past two years, this administration has deepened our dependence on expensive, dirty fossil fuel energy while thwarting our access to cheaper, clean sources at every opportunity. The inevitable result is rising costs for consumers. Actions have consequences—and these numbers show people across the country are paying them.”
Two new NRDC analyses put the costs of the administration's energy agenda into perspective: examining how its policies are affecting households and businesses, nationally and across nine states:
- An Affordability Crisis of Trump’s Own Making
- Trump’s Dirty Energy Double Whammy: Pay More for Fuel and Power—and Use More of It
NRDC is tracking every step of the Trump administration's attacks on public health and the environment. Go to White House Watch for the comprehensive list of these attacks. To subscribe to our weekly newsletter, email jbar@nrdc.org.
###
Established in 1970, NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. Our team of more than 800 lawyers, policy experts, scientists, economists, and communications specialists work across the United States and around the world, from offices in Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and Santa Monica, as well as a representative office in Beijing and affiliate offices in New Delhi (through NRDC’s wholly owned for-profit subsidiary, NRDC India Private Limited) and London (through its UK-based partner NRDC International).