Hassett: Economy is ‘best we’ve ever seen’
Calling the current economy the best we've ever seen is a strong claim, and it leans on real achievements. Unemployment has been low, growth has held up, and the pre-pandemic expansion was the longest on record. Those are facts the administration can rightly cite. But "best ever" depends entirely on which yardstick you pick. Measure by GDP or job creation and the picture looks bright. Measure by housing affordability, healthcare costs, or how much of recent gains have flowed to the top, and the glow fades.
What I'd want to know is how Hassett defines "best," and whether that definition survives contact with ordinary budgets. The midterm framing matters too. This is a political statement timed for the final stretch, so it's worth reading it as both an economic assessment and a campaign pitch.
I think the honest take is that the economy has genuinely improved on several fronts, but calling it the best ever invites a debate the administration may not want. Voters tend to reward strong economies, yet they also punish when they feel the gains pass them by. The real test is whether the numbers match what people experience at the grocery store and in their paychecks.