What’s the economic forecast for 2026?
Alfred Ortiz, CEO of the Job Creators Network, joined The National News Desk to discuss what’s to come.
He said 2025 ended on a high note.
“I know that consumers were actually out there shopping away. The great almost 4% increase in spending versus last year. So, those doldrums and those concerns that people are saying that it was going to be a horrible holiday season that just didn’t materialize. I think people are feeling optimistic,” Ortiz said.
Despite unemployment numbers hitting its highest since November, Ortiz said the Trump administration is focused on shifting the focus to the private sector.
A new report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday said that Americans are in a low-hire, low-fire labor market.
“The Trump administration was really focus on is shifting our economy from really a government-funded economy, where jobs are basically coming from the government sector and really now a private sector economy,” Ortiz said.
He added that almost 300,00 government jobs were lost.
“The government, let’s face it, was just too fat, too bureaucratic. And I think that was a meaningful move that the Trump administration did. And now we’re much more in a healthy environment of private sector job growth,” Ortiz said.
When it comes to interest rates, Ortiz said he doesn’t think the U.S. will see another drop in interest rates before Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell leaves the job.
“Quite frankly, the American small business owner and consumer really need that, those lower interest rates,” Ortiz said.
Despite the optimism going into 2026, Ortiz said businesses are having problems with access and cost of credit.
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