Setting the baseline for Trump's economy

Washington

BARELY five weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump has already tried to shape perceptions about his economic record. His statement, "I have inherited a mess," made several times at his Feb 16 presidential press conference, was an attempt to push down the baseline against which his performance will be measured. But key indicators of economic well-being suggest a much higher baseline that he might find hard to improve on. Let's take a look at where the main indicators stand now.

After his inauguration, Mr Trump in fact promised 4 per cent GDP growth (days later revised to 3 per cent by Steven Mnuchin, now his Treasury secretary). Higher growth would certainly be welcome, all other things being equal.