The economy of 2025 in five charts
AP News••general
Key Points:
- In 2025, the U.S. economy experienced healthy growth with a 4.3% annual pace in Q3, driven mainly by strong consumer spending from wealthier households, despite a sluggish job market and rising unemployment.
- Hiring slowed significantly after tariff announcements and amid uncertainties, with job gains weak and unemployment rising from 4% to 4.6% by November; AI adoption also contributed to cautious hiring practices.
- Inflation remained persistently elevated, with the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure rising slightly to 2.8% in September 2025, becoming a key political issue, though economists expect a gradual cooling toward the 2% target in 2026.
- The six-week government shutdown in late 2025 disrupted
