GRANITE CITY, Ill. — President Donald Trump on Thursday outlined his expectations for Friday’s economic growth report, breaking from a tradition of presidents refraining from commenting on the figure ahead of its release, and predicted the numbers would be strong.
“Somebody actually predicted today 5.3 [percent growth]” he said during a rally at a steel plant here[1]. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.” But, he continued, “if it has a 4 in front of it, we’re happy. If it has like a 3, but it’s a 3.8, 3.9, 3.7, we’re OK.”
Read: Get ready for the GDP hot takes[2]
“These are unthinkable numbers,” he added. “If I would have used these numbers during the campaign, the fake news back there would’ve said he’s exaggerating.”
Read: Wall Street investors can’t remember the last time a GDP report was so crucial [3]
The Commerce Department on Friday morning will release its first official estimate of second-quarter gross domestic product, a broad measure of the goods and services produced across the U.S.
An expanded version of this report can be found on WSJ.com[4]
Also popular on WSJ.com:
‘I Quit, I Quit!’ Boardroom turmoil aggravates Univision’s problems[5]
References
- ^ he said during a rally at a steel plant here (www.marketwatch.com)
- ^ Get ready for the GDP hot takes (www.marketwatch.com)
- ^ Wall Street investors can’t remember the last time a GDP report was so crucial (www.marketwatch.com)
- ^ An expanded version of this report can be found on WSJ.com (www.wsj.com)
- ^ ‘I Quit, I Quit!’ Boardroom turmoil aggravates Univision’s problems (www.wsj.com)
- ^ Higher fuel costs hit airlines (www.wsj.com)