Economic Growth and Inflation - The U.S. economy grew faster than expected in late 2025, with overall output rising at an annual pace of about 4% to 4.5% in the third quarter, driven by increased consumer spending and business investment [4] - Inflation has cooled, with prices rising 2.7% in November compared to the previous year, which is lower than the 3.1% economists had estimated [5] Stock Market Performance - The S&P 500 ended 2025 with a gain of 17%, indicating a strong year for U.S. stocks [2] Legislative Developments - Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, extends expiring tax cuts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introduces new federal initiatives [9][10] - The OBBBA is expected to result in significant tax refunds for working Americans, with predictions of refunds ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 due to changes in tax withholding [13] Tariff Policies - In April, Trump announced "Liberation Day" tariffs aimed at reducing trade imbalances and reviving U.S. manufacturing, although critics warn of potential consumer price increases [20] - Total duty revenue reached $215.2 billion in fiscal year 2025, with $96.5 billion collected since the start of the new fiscal year [21] - Trump claims that tariff revenue could fund a $2,000 dividend for low- and middle-income Americans [23]