Three-Time Trump Voter Says He Can No Longer Afford His Favourite Steak as US Inflation Hits 3.7%

A three-time Donald Trump voter in Bullhead City, Arizona, says rising prices have put one of his favourite weekend meals out of reach, as the president visited the city ahead of November's US midterm elections.

Louis Oliverio, 72, said: 'It's been a while since I bought a fillet.' His comments came as new federal figures showed annual inflation accelerating to 3.7% in September, up from 3.4% in August.

Trump Voter Cuts Back on Steak

Oliverio, who voted for Trump in all three of his presidential elections, said rising costs had affected simple pleasures such as grilling steak on a Saturday night.

He said middle- and lower-middle-income households in his community wanted prices to fall.

Although he expressed reservations about Trump's involvement in foreign policy, saying the president had 'taken on too much', Oliverio continued to support his approach to border security.

His comments reflected concerns about household costs without indicating that he had abandoned his support for the president. The reporting did not establish how he intended to vote in the midterm elections.

Bullhead City Raises Utility Rates

Local households have also faced higher utility charges. Bullhead City approved changes to its water and sewer base rates following public hearings on 2 and 16 September 2025. The adjustments took effect with the January 2026 billing cycle.

The city's published schedule shows that the monthly water base charge for a residential customer with a half-inch meter on the Mohave system rose from $14.61 (about £11.02) in 2025 to $17.39 (about £13.11) in 2026.

For customers with the same meter size on the North Mohave system, the base charge increased from $11 (about £8.30) to $17.39 (about £13.11). These figures cover the base charge rather than the total bill, which can also include usage charges.

Bullhead City operates a Utilities Assistance and Discount Program for eligible customers, including qualifying low-income households and disabled veterans. Customers must meet the programme's eligibility requirements to receive assistance.

Further water base-rate increases are scheduled for 2027 and 2028.

City officials cited the need to maintain and improve the wastewater system, install odour-control equipment and cover rising electricity, fuel and staffing costs. They also identified the need to preserve reserves for future expenditure.

Trump Campaigns in Arizona Ahead of Midterms

Trump visited Bullhead City on Wednesday, 14 October, for a Republican campaign rally at Laughlin Bullhead International Airport.

The city lies along the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona, near the Nevada border. The event formed part of the president's campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the 3 November elections.

The visit took place less than three weeks before election day, with early voting already under way in Arizona.

Oliverio's comments offered a local perspective on affordability as candidates campaigned for control of Congress and state offices.

Annual Inflation Rises to 3.7%

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on 14 October that consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months to September, compared with 3.4% in August.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index increased 0.6% between August and September, following a 0.4% rise the previous month.

Petrol prices rose 9.1% in September, accounting for more than half of the overall monthly increase.

Food prices were unchanged overall during the month. Grocery prices fell 0.1%, while the cost of food bought away from home rose 0.2%.

The national figures therefore show that September's acceleration was driven principally by energy rather than a broad monthly rise in food prices. They do not establish how much Oliverio's preferred steak cost locally or how his household's expenses changed.