Trump touts economic gains after US business survey reaches five-year high

In a Truth Social post on 26 September 2026, President Donald Trump described a surge in business activity as evidence of economic success under his presidency and urged voters to back Republican and Trump-aligned candidates in the midterms. He cited S&P Global’s preliminary September survey: its index of output across US manufacturing and services rose to 58.4 from 56.0 in August, the highest reading since July 2021. The survey also found mounting cost pressures, with its input-price index rising to 66.4 from 59.9. [1] [3]

Trump also pointed to household income and poverty figures. Inflation-adjusted median household income reached a record $87,460 in 2025, the Census Bureau reported. That record applies to pre-tax household income: the post-tax median rose but remained below its levels in 2020 and 2021. The official poverty rate fell to 10.2%, which the bureau described as one of the lowest rates on record. A separate, broader poverty measure was 13.1%, with no statistically significant change from 2024. [4] [5] [6]

Trump predicted that goods exports would set an annual record in 2026. The White House lists more than $11 trillion in announced investment commitments for this presidential term; commitments are not the same as completed spending. [1] [7]