President Donald Trump’s promise of a $5,000 election "dividend" check could provide short-term help to Americans struggling with household costs, but economists say it could also fuel inflation in the months that follow. Pandemic-era fiscal stimulus (government spending or tax support) indirectly pushed prices higher by leaving consumers with more money to spend, reports show. Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said Americans welcomed those checks but warned that a new payment could bring short-term gains followed by longer-term financial pressure.