How is Trump's economy doing?

The latest job numbers suggest a slowdown in the offing

Photo composite illustration of Donald Trump sailing a boat made of dollar bills into stormy seas
America is not experiencing the economic 'boom the Republican president promised'
(Image credit: Illustration by Stephen Kelly / Getty Images)

President Donald Trump says the U.S. economy is going great under his stewardship. The latest job numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggest a slowdown is coming, and Trump's response to that report was to fire the nation's chief labor statistician last week.

The American economy is "bending but not yet breaking" under the weight of Trump's policies, said Eric Levitz at Vox. An "avalanche of data" suggests that hiring and economic growth are slowing, while consumer prices are rising. While there's "little sign of an imminent recession or inflationary crisis," the numbers suggest that Trump's tariff-driven trade wars are taking a "heavy toll on U.S. households and businesses." If the trends continue, "economic growth could stall out completely."

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a writer with 30 years of newspaper and online journalism experience. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic and The Kansas City Star. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.