Related Articles
-Editorial
As President Donald Trump reaches the 100-day milestone of his second term, the White House released a report on April 29 outlining what it describes as robust economic progress driven by job growth, falling inflation, and regulatory rollback efforts.
According to a memorandum from the Council of Economic Advisers to the White House Communications Staff, 345,000 jobs have been created since President Trump’s inauguration in January. Of those, 188,000 (or 54%) were in non-government and government-adjacent sectors, including 2,000 in mining and logging, 27,000 in construction, and 9,000 in manufacturing. The report draws a contrast with the final two years of the Biden administration, during which a higher share of job growth was concentrated in the public sector.
The data also show that 15,000 federal government jobs were eliminated in the same period. Meanwhile, labor force participation for individuals without a high school diploma rose by 0.7%, and veteran unemployment dropped from 4.2% to 3.8%. March alone saw 228,000 jobs added, one of the strongest single-month gains in the past two years.
Federal remote work declined significantly, falling more than 16 percentage points year-over-year. The administration attributed this shift to Trump’s push to return federal employees to in-person work, bringing public-sector telework levels in line with the private sector.
On inflation, the White House cited price decreases in several key categories. Prescription drug prices fell by more than 2%, with March’s drop being the largest on record. Gasoline and energy prices declined 7% and 2%, respectively. Wholesale egg prices have dropped approximately 50% since January.
The report contrasted these figures with inflation under the Biden administration, which the White House said saw a 23% increase in grocery prices and a 34% rise in energy costs. Trump officials also noted that real wages declined by 2.4% during Biden’s term, while under Trump’s current term, real average hourly earnings for middle- and low-income workers rose 0.4% and 1%, respectively, in the manufacturing sector.
Additional highlights include a rise in industrial production to the seventh-highest monthly level ever recorded and a notable surge in auto sales in March — the largest monthly increase in over a year. Mortgage rates have declined by approximately 0.4 percentage points, which the report estimates could save new homebuyers over $32,000 across a 30-year mortgage.
The administration also touted what it called “major regulatory victories,” including halting unfinalized Biden-era regulations projected to save Americans over $180 billion. A broader deregulatory initiative aims to repeal 10 rules for every new one implemented, building on Trump’s previous “2-for-1” rule from his first term. Cumulative savings from deregulatory actions are estimated at nearly $935 billion, or approximately $11,000 per family of four over the next decade.
While the data reflect positive trends in employment and inflation, independent economists are expected to review the administration’s claims in greater detail. Critics have often urged caution about early-term statistics and their long-term impact, particularly amid ongoing global economic uncertainty.
The White House also highlighted what it calls historic progress on immigration enforcement. According to official data and media reports, illegal border crossings have declined significantly, with a 95% drop in encounters and a 99% reduction in “gotaways” since January. The administration has expanded deportation operations, arresting over 139,000 individuals, including alleged gang members. It has also designated groups like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations, stepping up criminal enforcement efforts nationwide.
President Trump’s latest executive order signals a renewed federal push to bring sanctuary jurisdictions into compliance with immigration law, threatening to withhold funding from those that defy cooperation. The administration frames the move as a critical step to restore national sovereignty and public safety, while critics argue it may escalate tensions between federal and local authorities.
President Trump stated: “No more Sanctuary Cities! They protect the Criminals, not the Victims. They are disgracing our Country, and are being mocked all over the World. Working on papers to withhold all Federal Funding for any City or State that allows these Death Traps to exist!!!”