Scott Horsley

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

The new forecast from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office predicts that economic growth will rev up slightly this year, goosed by the extended tax cut that congressional Republicans passed last summer.

GDP is projected to grow 2.2 percent, compared to a little less than 2 percent in 2025.

The economic boost from the tax cut is expected to be partially offset, however, by President Trump's tariffs, which are a drag on the economy, and his immigration crackdown, which limits the size of the workforce.

Inflation is expected to fall only slightly and end the year well above the Federal Reserve's 2 percent target, but congressional forecasters still think the Fed will continue to cut short-term interest rates.

Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

The U.S.

trade gap narrowed in October to a little over $29 billion.

That's down 39 percent from the previous month.

Exports rose in October while imports fell.

U.S.

workers got more productive in the late summer and early fall.

The Labor Department says productivity rose by nearly 5 percent during the third quarter.

That's important because when workers are more productive, they can earn higher wages without putting upward pressure on prices.

Wage growth has slowed in recent months, however, as the job market has softened.

New applications for unemployment benefits inched up last week.

We'll get a full report on December unemployment tomorrow.

Scott Horsley, Impair News, Washington.

The Congressional Budget Office projects the U.S.

population will grow from 349 million people this year to about 357 million in 2035.