As economists pointed to some of the president’s policies to explain the latest Labor Department data, White House aides sought to make the case for optimism in the new year.

Forecasters believe U.S. employment numbers expanded modestly in December, extending a streak of labor market weakness that has prompted the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates several times.

The American economy at the end of 2025 looks very different from a year ago. Tariffs are higher, AI occupies a greater share of overall spending and the federal government under President Donald Trump is demanding a greater say in how businesses are run. All that change leaves observers uncertain about what 2026 will bring.

The kitchen sink was thrown at the economy in 2025 — punishing tariffs, higher inflation, rising unemployment — but the U.S. might still be growing at an above-average speed in a sign of surprising pluck.

From stubbornly high living costs to a softer labor market, economists say these are the forces that will shape the year ahead.

Economists may have a pretty dismal record with predictions. But we're still interested in what they see in their non-existent crystal balls.

The U.S. economy was buffeted by waves of stormy factors in 2025 including erratic trade policy changes, pesky inflationary pressures and a jobs market that has been mostly in decline for the past 12 months.

Delays in data collection, Trump’s discrepancy in following through with his threats, and uncertainty among importers make tariff shocks not fully visible

President Donald Trump rode a wave of voter frustration about the economy to a second term in the White House, promising lower prices and a “golden age” for the nation.

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports. The U.S. economy ...