Gasoline prices declined, but not by 50%, and electricity and natural gas rose in price

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump said he would cut energy costs in half within 12 months of taking office. At the one-year mark, U.S. energy costs aren't 50% lower.

He did oversee a decline in gasoline prices. In the second week of January 2026, the average price per gallon nationally was $2.78 — 33 cents less than the average price per gallon when he was sworn in for his second term a year earlier: $3.11. 

But that's a decline of about 11% — not 50%. A 50% decline would require gasoline prices to fall to $1.56, a level not seen since 2004.

Prices for another type of energy — fuel oil, which is used for home heating, especially in the northeastern U.S. — have also fallen during Trump's second term, by about 4%.

But two other key forms of energy paid directly by consumers — electricity and natural gas — rose during Trump's second term. The price of natural gas is up by almost 9%, and the cost of electricity is up by almost 7%.

The decline in gasoline prices is notable, but they've only dropped about one-fifth of the way toward Trump's aggressive target — and electricity and natural gas have moved in the wrong direction. We rate the promise Stalled.