Affordability

• The U.S. Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday designed to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, marking a rare bipartisan legislative effort to address the nation's growing housing shortage. • The bill represents a significant policy shift aimed at tackling housing affordability challenges facing American families across multiple income levels. • Congressional support for housing reform reflects bipartisan recognition of the critical need to expand housing supply and reduce barriers to homeownership and rental access.

US workers are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities as the president claims ‘the economy is roaring back’US workers are still struggling with the cost of living despite Donald Trump’s campaign promises to fix the US affordability crisis.The Guardian spoke to workers as an exclusive poll showed cross-party concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of the US economy. Continue reading...

Lawmakers in nine states introduced more than fifteen tariff disclosure bills in 2026, requiring businesses to display tariff costs on receipts or vehicle labels amid midterm election pressures. Oregon's HB 4061 would provide grants to small businesses affected by federal tariffs, while both Democrats and Republicans target algorithmic pricing software in states like Illinois (HB 4717), Ohio (SB 328), Tennessee (SB 1807), and Utah (SB 293). These measures aim to address constituent concerns over rising living costs by promoting transparency in pricing practices potentially enabling price collusion. Additional bills in Colorado (HB 1210) and Maryland (HB 148) extend restrictions to workplace algorithms used for wage setting.

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on March 13, 2026, directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds to lower home buying costs. The orders aim to limit financial institutions' ability to buy single-family homes and cap credit card interest rates, responding to median home prices hitting $398,000 in February—nearly five times the median household income. Housing affordability has become a pivotal issue threatening GOP midterm prospects, especially among voters under 40, amid a bipartisan Senate bill passed Thursday to boost construction. White House officials anticipate mortgage regulation changes could impact buyers within months.