Justin Wolfers Fact-Checks the Inflation Story on Live TV

Is today's inflation really "inherited"? Justin Wolfers says the real causes are in the White House now. When the Treasury Secretary blames today's 3.4% inflation on the last administration, economist Justin Wolfers politely refuses to carry the water. Inflation was near zero and falling when this White House took office — and since then, tariffs went up, the Strait of Hormuz closed, oil climbed to $60 a barrel, the deficit ballooned, and the bond market pushed interest rates higher. Every one of those, he argues, traces back to current policy choices — and you feel it in your mortgage payment and your grocery bill. Then Justin tackles the puzzle that nags at you: on paper the economy is fine — inflation okay, unemployment low — yet consumer sentiment is the worst on record. His answer is a deep national ennui. We're used to shocks hitting from outside, with the government there to help; now the biggest economic risks are coming from inside the house, and that uncertainty is what's scaring you. He also shows where jobs are actually growing (healthcare, social services, and for women far faster than men — not the mining-and-manufacturing story we keep hearing), and gets personal on AI: even as two economists, he and his wife can't tell their own daughter what to study. If experts are this unsure, imagine how it feels for everyone else. From Justin's appearance on Bloomberg Television's The Weekend, aired October 3, 2026. Chapters: 0:00 Was inflation really inherited? 1:04 Every challenge traces back to this White House 3:23 Why sentiment is at record lows 4:33 The economy that comes from inside the house 6:42 Where the jobs are actually growing 8:51 What AI is really doing to workers Subscribe — it's the one economic call that won't rocket up on you: on YouTube 👉    / platypuseconomics   on Substack 👉 https://newsletter.platypuseconomics.com the Podcast 👉 https://platypuseconomics.com/podcast Follow on Social Media @PlatypusEconomics and @JustinWolfers