US Democratic presidential candidate presents plan to combat excessive food prices as well as child care and housing costs.

In one of her first major political speeches in the US presidential campaign, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris promised to “reduce costs and increase economic security for all Americans”.

The US vice president, who secured the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month, unveiled a series of proposals on Friday that she said would help stimulate the economy and counter “price gouging” on food.

“I’m going to be completely focused on creating opportunity for the middle class,” Harris told a crowd of supporters in North Carolina. “Together, we’re going to build what I call an opportunity economy.”

The plan includes an end to so-called grocery price hikes. Harris said she would seek to push through a “first-of-its-kind federal ban” on the practice. She also proposed a program that would provide $25,000 in assistance to first-time homebuyers, as well as tax incentives for developers who build affordable homes.

In addition, Harris supported a $6,000 tax credit for children in their first year of life and an earned income tax credit for people in low-paying jobs without children. She also renewed Biden’s promise to lower prescription drug prices.

Friday’s speech comes at a time when former President Donald Trump’s campaign is trying to focus its attacks on Harris on the economy. The Republican candidate called Harris a “radical California liberal who ruined the economy.”

Earlier this week in North Carolina, Trump presented his own vision of the economy, making sweeping promises to “beat inflation,” end “job-killing regulations,” and create economic abundance that will “pay off all our debt.”

Trump’s 75-minute speech on Wednesday often turned to other topics, including criticism of Biden’s decision to drop out of the race and digressions about Harris’ laughter.

Polls have shown that voters trust Trump more than Harris on economic issues.

According to a poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 45 percent of respondents believe Trump is better prepared to deal with the economic situation, while 38 percent said the same about Harris.

About one in ten voters said they did not trust either Harris or Trump to get the economy under better control.

The competing speeches come at a time when the U.S. economy continues to suffer from high prices in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although year-on-year inflation has reached its lowest level in more than three years, food prices are still 21 percent higher than they were during that period. Rents and other housing costs have also continued to rise. Some economists have also warned of an impending recession.

Harris unveiled her plan amid a blitzkrieg in swing states, seeking to capitalize on the enthusiasm that had accompanied her abrupt entry into the race.

She was officially nominated by the Democratic Party in a virtual roll call earlier this month and will formally accept her nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week.

Biden, 81, was the Democratic nominee until last month, when he withdrew from the race after a disastrous debate performance against Trump that heightened concerns about his age.