As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in the White House, many Americans remain skeptical about his ability to deliver on promises to lower everyday expenses such as groceries, housing, and health care costs.

Despite these tempered expectations, his supporters remain hopeful about his overall leadership, according to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

The survey found that only about 2 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will make significant progress in lowering the cost of essential goods and services this year.

An additional 2 in 10 express “moderate” confidence in his ability to achieve these goals.

Faith in his ability to create jobs is slightly higher, with 3 in 10 Americans confident he will make strides in this area during 2025.

Among Republicans, confidence in Trump’s economic policies remains higher than the general population, though not overwhelmingly so.

Roughly 6 in 10 Republicans are at least “very” confident in Trump’s ability to create jobs, but less than half share the same confidence in his capacity to reduce costs for housing, food, or health care.

Economic issues played a significant role in the 2024 presidential campaign, with many voters blaming President Joe Biden for inflation and high costs.

AP VoteCast, a comprehensive survey of voters and nonvoters, revealed that 4 in 10 voters identified the economy and jobs as the country’s most pressing issues. Of those voters, 6 in 10 cast their ballots for Trump.

Despite Trump’s campaign promises, many Americans appear cautious about expecting quick fixes.

Less than one-third of Americans are “extremely” or “very” confident in his overall handling of the economy.

Nearly 2 in 10 express moderate confidence, while about half are “slightly” or “not at all” confident in his economic leadership.

Trump’s second-term agenda extends beyond economic issues, but Americans’ expectations remain low across several policy areas.

Only about one-third of respondents expressed confidence in his ability to handle immigration and national security.

Health care stands out as a particularly weak area for Trump, with only 2 in 10 Americans confident in his ability to address health care issues or reduce costs.

Among Republicans, about half are at least “very” confident in his ability to handle health care, but only one-third believe he will make significant progress in lowering costs.

During the campaign, Trump suggested that he would explore alternatives to the Affordable Care Act, but he has not yet presented a detailed plan.

Efforts during his first term to dismantle the ACA ultimately failed, leaving doubts about his ability to achieve meaningful reform in this area.

While economic skepticism persists, Republicans remain optimistic about Trump’s second term. About half of Republicans believe he will be a “great” president, an increase from the roughly 4 in 10 who held that view at the end of his first term.

On the other hand, Democrats continue to view Trump’s presidency negatively, though their concerns are somewhat less intense than in the past.

Approximately 6 in 10 Democrats expect Trump to be a “terrible” president, down from three-quarters who held this view when he left office in 2021.

Overall, the survey reflects a polarized nation bracing for the return of a divisive figure to the White House.

While Trump’s supporters are optimistic about his leadership, his ability to address critical economic and policy challenges remains uncertain for a large portion of the American public.