White House Sees Win After 2 Strong Economic Reports

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by Lydia DePillis and Sydney Ember

February 13, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The White House has highlighted two recent positive economic reports as a significant win for President Trump. In January, employment growth exceeded expectations, growing at more than double the rate economists predicted. Additionally, inflation showed unexpected softness, indicating that price pressures are not accelerating. A White House spokesman declared that "President Trump has defeated Joe Biden’s inflation crisis," suggesting that with inflation now low and stable, the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates, which Trump has long advocated for. The employment report revealed a falling unemployment rate and a robust job market, potentially signaling strength in the labor market. However, these numbers are subject to revision. The soft inflation reading, at 2.4% annually, could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to consider interest rate cuts, as Trump has demanded. These developments were met with enthusiasm from Trump himself, who described the financial figures as "very good" and emphasized the benefits of modest inflation. Despite these positive indicators, the broader economic picture remains uncertain. After annual revisions, job growth in Trump's first year back in office was 181,000, the slowest pace since 2010, aside from the pandemic year of 2020. Additionally, job creation has become highly concentrated, with two-thirds of new jobs in January coming from the healthcare sector. Without the 390,000 new positions in this sector, the economy would have lost jobs last year. These reports are significant because they influence how Trump's economic policies are perceived and could shape future Federal Reserve decisions. While the White House is celebrating these short-term positive indicators, the bigger picture raises questions about the sustainability of economic growth and the distribution of job creation across different industries. For readers interested in news about the economy, understanding both the immediate wins and underlying challenges provides a more complete picture of Trump's economic legacy and the health of the U.S. economy.

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/13/2026