The economy added just 29,000 jobs in September, according to this morning’s Bureau of Labor Statistics report, far below economists’ expectations, and employment in July and August combined was 60,000 jobs lower than previously reported.
Under Donald Trump, families are paying more for gas, groceries, and travel. Employers have pulled back on hiring, and consumer confidence is at its lowest point in years as high prices, soaring fuel costs, and Trump’s trade war drag down Americans’ finances and their expectations of the economy.
The numbers clearly show that Trump’s economy is moving toward stagflation, something he called “the death of the American Dream” while running for president in 2024. The toxic mix of a stalled job market and rising costs leaves working families squeezed from both sides and makes getting ahead feel further out of reach every month.
Trump’s economy:
- Only 29,000 jobs were added in September, far below the roughly 90,000 economists expected, and unemployment rose to 4.2%
- Inflation is running at 3.4% over the past year and continues to outpace wage growth.
- Gas prices are up over 27% from a year ago, and airfare is up more than 23%.
- Consumer sentiment fell to 48.1, the second-lowest reading in the history of the University of Michigan survey. Americans now expect prices to rise 4.6% over the next year.
“Stagflation doesn’t arrive overnight, but Donald Trump’s policies have been building toward it for nearly two years now with inflationary tariffs, a war causing energy shocks, and decisions that drive up costs and drive away hiring,” said American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “After months of Trump shrugging off the warning signs and ignoring the financial squeeze facing working-class families, this is an October surprise we saw coming from a mile away. Families saw it too, and they’ll make sure their frustrations are heard in November when they send a message to Trump and MAGA Republicans on Election Day.”
Published: Oct 2, 2026