The US economy shows signs of improvement entering 2026, driven by a robust
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4.3%4.3 %
4.3%
annualized GDP growth in late 2025, AI-fueled investment, and real wage growth. Key indicators include a stabilizing labor market with low, layoff-driven unemployment, rebounding housing, increased corporate profits, and adapting supply chains.
Key signs of economic improvement as of late 2025 and early 2026 include:
Robust GDP Growth: The US economy experienced a significant, unexpected boost, with GDP expanding at an annualized rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025, marking the strongest performance in two years.
AI and Tech Investment: Massive, ongoing investments in artificial intelligence by major tech firms are acting as a significant economic driver.
Stabilizing Labor Market: While job growth has slowed, the unemployment rate has remained relatively steady (e.g., 3.7% in early 2024), and current unemployment trends are driven less by layoffs, suggesting a more resilient market.
Real Wage Growth: Many workers are experiencing wage increases that outpace inflation, enhancing purchasing power.
Housing Market “Green Shoots”: Indicators show signs of life in the housing sector, including increased mortgage applications and growth in new home construction, suggesting improved affordability.
Increased Corporate Profits and Retail Sales: Corporate profits have hit high levels, and consumer spending/retail sales have shown recovery and resilience.
Adapting Supply Chains: Businesses have largely adapted to global trade tensions, reducing uncertainty and allowing for more stable, long-term planning.
There are certainly strong parts to go along with some of the softer. Lots of nuance in this one though which has been true since the pandemic recovery started.
I know this was just part of your overall point, but weakening the dollar is a policy decision that this administration has pursued. Among other things, it’s a way to make it appear that the national debt is lower by devaluing the currency. The run-ups in gold and silver are signs, just like other countries selling out of our treasury bonds.
There are some good things about a weaker dollar, but there are a lot more bad things, as far as most Americans are concerned. It hides inflation without reducing prices and tends to stagnate wage growth, which is a bad combo.
US exceeded Japan in steel production for the first time in a long time. Now third
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BayouCougar
(Denounce all racism and antisemitism.)
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It seems there is growing evidence that current policies designed to protect U.S. steel production, such as using tariffs, aimed to save domestic industry jobs are resulting in a net loss for the broader U.S. job market. Although US steel producers added some jobs, studies show that manufacturers using steel face higher costs, causing far more job losses than the steel sector gains. But yeah, we are third.
Honestly, when I look at the multi year data,
the US steel production kind looks flat.
Our peak year since 2015 was in 2019 with 87.5, the pandemic in 2020, and then up to 85.8 in 2021 with current production at 82 in 2025. So not a really strong case of massive
growth and more the declines in Japan for whatever reasons…India is the one with massive growth in that data.
It’s like Japan and India swapped 2nd and 4th
place.
Not sure what that even means in regards to discussing
the source you referenced.
In that 11 year data set, the US was in 3rd place in 2015 and is 3rd place in 2025.
Japan has 20+% drop from 2015 to 2025. The US about +4% increase over the period end points. India has a massive increase, almost doubling production , during that time. And of course China dominates all in the top 10.
But do elaborate more on the data please that you brought forth.
Indonesia’s stock market just went through some serious drama this week—the worst two-day crash in decades.
It all kicked off when MSCI flagged big concerns about transparency in ownership and trading for Indonesian stocks, warning they might get downgraded from emerging to frontier-market status. That triggered massive selling— the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) plunged about eight percent on Wednesday and even more Thursday, wiping out roughly eighty billion dollars in market value. Trading got halted multiple times because of the volatility.
The IDX CEO even resigned on Friday amid the fallout, taking responsibility for the mess. Regulators jumped in quick—promising reforms like boosting free-float requirements and better governance to address MSCI’s issues.
Today, things bounced back a bit: the JCI climbed around one point one eight percent, closing higher as investors reacted to those moves.
The big takeaway is that we have lost significant ground since 2015 compared
to number 1 and number 2. We have lower percentage total now more then ever.
And if you will note, Japan’s steel production peak was in 2015, and on a 10 year down trend. Therefore your conclusions about tariffs appears to be wrong.
The steel production data doesn’t bear that conclusion out. China has increased more; India has increased dramatically, and the US is more less flat lind.
My dad would say it’s more like someone blowing smoke up your tailpipe(sanitized version).
More of the don’t believe your own eyes; believe the propaganda your being feed
instead. Frustrating and depressing. I understand it to a degree for our senior members, but come on guys - Wake-up !
