Vice President Kamala Harris is set to unveil her economic agenda during a speech in North Carolina, highlighting her commitment to lowering grocery prices, addressing housing costs, and bolstering the middle class. While her policy platform aligns closely with President Biden's, Harris aims to emphasize different policies, such as paid leave, that matter most to her, according to a Harris aide.

Harris's proposals regarding "price gouging" indicate a more assertive approach compared to Biden's stance. She plans to empower the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. attorneys to crack down on businesses that hike up prices, going beyond the president's proposals. This approach stems from the need to address concerns raised by voters regarding the handling of the economy by the Biden administration.

However, while Harris will unveil more details about her economic proposals in her Friday speech, her campaign has intentionally adopted a "strategic vagueness" to ward off attacks and attract support from business groups, according to The New York Times. This approach aims to position Harris as a blank slate open to finding common ground while maintaining a distinct economic vision.

In contrast, former President Donald Trump's economic agenda revolved around raising tariffs on imported goods, a stance opposed by Harris. Trump supported cutting taxes and regulations to combat inflation, including lowering the corporate tax rate. Additionally, he advocated for increasing oil production to reduce energy prices. Harris endorsed Trump's "no tax on tips" proposal but has not responded to his call for ending taxes on Social Security benefits, which experts fear could hasten the insolvency of Social Security and Medicare.

A Financial Times/University of Michigan poll reveals that 42% of voters trust Harris more to handle the economy, while 41% trust Trump. This represents a shift from Trump's previous six-point lead over Biden in July. However, the poll also indicates that 42% believe a Trump presidency would leave them better off financially, compared to 33% who hold the same opinion about Harris.

Harris's rise to the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee came after Biden withdrew from the race due to concerns surrounding his mental fitness. Although she has gained support and risen in the polls, Harris has faced criticism for offering few concrete policy proposals. Her upcoming speech is therefore anticipated to be her most substantive remarks on policy to date, with a particular focus on the economy, given its significance to voters in this election cycle.

The timing of Harris's speech coincides with news that inflation fell to its lowest point in over three years. Federal data released on Wednesday revealed that the inflation rate in July stood at 2.9%, the first time it has dipped below 3% since March 2021.

As the vice president outlines her economic agenda, the nation awaits detailed proposals and an opportunity to examine the vision and policies she believes will bring about economic prosperity for the middle class.