With GDP up 4.3%, 5% Gains Are Likely in 2026

Traders work on the floor of the New York stock Exchange during a shortened trading day before the Christmas holiday in New York City on Dec. 24, 2025. The Dow finished up nearly 300 points on positive economic data, indicating strength in the U.S. economy. Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesCommentaryMy 5% GDP growth prediction raised some eyebrows during a recent appearance on Fox Business News. However, my forecast gained more credibility after the Commerce Department announced last Tuesday that third-quarter GDP rose to a 4.3% annual pace, which was the strongest pace in two years and substantially higher than the economists’ consensus estimate of just 3%.