White House cites record holiday sales as sign of economic resilience

WASHINGTON, DC: The White House cited record-breaking Thanksgiving spending as proof that President Donald Trump’s policies were working despite persistent concerns about inflation and tariffs.

In an interview with Nancy Cordes on CBS’s 'Face the Nation' on Sunday, November 30, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett touted the latest retail figures as a sign of robust consumer confidence.

According to data cited by the administration, online sales surged nearly 10% while in-store purchases reportedly rose by 4% compared to last year's Black Friday, signaling a strong start to the holiday shopping season.

Kevin Hassett says critics ‘disproven’ by strong sales

Hassett took a swipe at critics who predicted a gloomy holiday season.

"I think the folks who were saying, ‘Wow, maybe people are going to be anxious about going back and getting presents for the kids’ and so on, they have been disproven this weekend," Hassett said.

He argued that the strong numbers were evidence of "pent-up demand" and a "great recovery" following the recent government shutdown, which had temporarily dampened economic activity.

"The good news around Thanksgiving is the sign of something that’s stronger to come," he added, projecting confidence that the momentum would carry into 2026.

Kevin Hassett cites ‘great jobs report’ as spending drivers 

Data from Adobe Analytics supported the White House's optimism. Reports stated a record $11.8 billion in online sales on Black Friday alone, a 9.1% jump from the previous year.

While critics argued that higher spending reflected higher prices due to tariffs, Hassett insisted that "incomes are up this year" and pointed to a "great jobs report" as the real driver behind the spending spree.

The administration has often downplayed warnings that its aggressive tariff policies could stifle growth, instead framing the current economic landscape as one of "resilience" and opportunity for American workers.

Kevin Hassett predicts ‘great recovery’ of economy

Despite the spending surge, polling data presented a more complex picture. A recent POLITICO/Public First poll found that a majority of Americans still blamed the Trump administration for high grocery prices.

However, Hassett remained unfazed, suggesting that the real-world behavior of consumers - opening their wallets for the holidays - speaks louder than sentiment surveys.

"With strong income and the government shutdown over... I think that we’re looking at a great recovery," he concluded.