Trump Boom Continues as GDP Shoots Up, Trade Deficit Plummets to Lowest Level Since 2009

The Trump economic boom appears to be well underway, based on new figures released Thursday.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta estimated that the Gross Domestic Product grew at 5.4 percent during the fourth quarter of last year.

That’s up from 4.3 percent during the third quarter, and is a full 3 percentage points higher than former President Joe Biden’s last quarter in office in 2024, when it was 2.4 percent.

On January 8, the #GDPNow model nowcast of real GDP growth in Q4 2025 is 5.4%: https://t.co/T7FoDdgYos. #ATLFedResearch

Download our EconomyNow app or go to our website for the latest GDPNow nowcast: https://t.co/NOSwMl7Jms. pic.twitter.com/NG6Qztoqil

— Atlanta Fed (@AtlantaFed) January 8, 2026

Meanwhile, the nation’s trade deficit fell to $29 billion in October, down from $136 billion in March before President Donald Trump instituted his reciprocal trade policy.

CNBC’s Rick Santelli reported Thursday, “We were expecting a number around $58 billion [in October]. Buckle up, this is unreal, the movement in this number: Minus $29.4 billion. We cut it basically in half.”

🚨 The trade deficit continues to PLUMMET under @realDonaldTrump!

MARCH: $136 billion.
NOW: $29 billion.

CNBC: “This is unreal… We haven’t been that small in a LONG time.” pic.twitter.com/CotN0dIRU0

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 8, 2026

CNBC reported that exports increased 2.6 percent and imports fell 3.2 percent in October.

The $29.4 billion figure was the lowest since the second quarter of 2009.

“The U.S. appears to be winning the trade war with tariffs curbing the imports of foreign goods, but America’s trading partners are not holding any grudge as they continue to buy more American goods and services,” Chris Rupkey, chief economist at Fwdbonds contended.

“So far, the forecasts for a U.S. recession are coming up dry as productivity continues to backstop growth,” he added.

Productivity grew at 4.9 percent in the third quarter of last year, according to a Thursday report by the Department of Labor Statistics.

+5.4% Q4 GDP (AtlantaFed forecast)

+4.9% Productivity Growth

TRUMP BOOM is here. pic.twitter.com/gHJYo09HdG

— David Sacks (@DavidSacks) January 8, 2026

The Bureau explained on its website, “Productivity is a measure of economic performance that compares the amount of goods and services produced (output) with the amount of inputs used to produce those goods and services.”

Quantus Insights noted on social media, “Higher output with lower costs is the holy grail: growth without inflation.”

U.S. productivity just surged +4.9%. The strongest reading in nearly six years.

At the same time, labor costs fell –1.9%.

Higher output with lower costs is the holy grail: growth without inflation.

Put simply:
• Productivity jumped from ~3.3% to 4.9%
• Labor costs flipped… pic.twitter.com/SAYstGHfe9

— Quantus Insights (@QuantusInsights) January 8, 2026

Additionally, CNBC reported, “Initial unemployment claims for the week ended Jan. 3 totaled 208,000, pushing the four-week moving average to its lowest since April 27, 2024.”

The Trump economy appears to be firing on all cylinders.

Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.