US Economy Shows Growth Amid Public Dissatisfaction

Government reports last week show employers added 130,000 jobs in January, unemployment fell to 4.3 percent, consumer prices rose 2.4 percent year-over-year, and average hourly wages have risen 3.7 percent since January 2025. Yet sentiment has plunged 26 percent, job growth slowed to 181,000 in 2025, and affordability pressure persists as electricity and natural gas costs rose while productivity surged 2.7 percent in 2025.