New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- The United States will close out the year on firmer economic ground than many anticipated, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday, citing buoyant holiday spending and stronger-than-expected output growth across recent quarters. His remarks come amid a disconnect between robust headline economic data and persistently subdued public sentiment.

Speaking on CBS News' Face the Nation, Bessent argued that economic momentum had outpaced expectations: "The economy has been better than we thought. We've had 4% GDP growth in a couple of quarters," he said. He added that despite federal disruptions, "We're going to finish the year, despite the Schumer shutdown, with 3% real GDP growth."

Recent GDP readings have indeed...