US President Donald Trump posted December employment data on social media Thursday night, January 8, before the Labor Department's scheduled Friday morning release, breaking traditional confidentiality protocols surrounding market-sensitive economic information. The monthly jobs numbers are typically kept under strict security due to their potential impact on financial markets.

Early Data Disclosure Details

Trump's social media post included a graphic showing employment changes since January, revealing data that wasn't scheduled for public release until Friday morning at 8:30 AM Eastern. The information came from a summary prepared for the president by White House economic officials, who receive advance copies on Thursday afternoons under confidentiality agreements.

The data reflected December hiring figures as well as revisions to previous months that were embargoed until the official release.

Market Impact and Official Response

Friday's official employment report contributed to stock price increases and slight declines in bond yields. The report showed unemployment dropped to 4.1% with modest job gains, providing reassurance to economists about hiring stability after job losses in August and October.

When questioned about the early posting, Trump told reporters Friday afternoon: "I don't know if they posted them. They gave me some numbers. When people give me things, I post them." He described the numbers as "amazing," though annual job gains totaled 584,000 for the year, the smallest increase outside a recession since 2003.

Historical Context and Protocols

The Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains strict security protocols for employment data, keeping early copies under lock and key due to their market sensitivity. Former BLS Commissioner Erica Groshen noted that early disclosures can technically face penalties including fines and jail time, though previous breaches typically received minimal punishment.

Employment Performance Comparison

The December data release highlighted ongoing employment trends, with private sector growth offsetting government sector reductions across federal, state, and local levels.

US President Donald Trump has announced a proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, potentially affecting millions of Americans currently facing borrowing costs that often exceed 20% to 30%. The announcement, made on January 9 via his Truth Social platform, revives a campaign promise and reignites debate over high consumer borrowing costs in the United States.

Proposal Details and Timeline

Trump's announcement targets what he describes as excessively high credit card interest rates charged by financial institutions. The proposed cap would take effect on January 20, 2026, marking one year since the start of his current presidential term.

The White House confirmed Trump's move to limit credit card interest rates in a separate social media post but provided no additional details on implementation or enforcement mechanisms.

Congressional Support and Similar Initiatives

The proposal aligns with existing bipartisan efforts in Congress addressing high credit card interest rates. Several lawmakers from both major parties have previously introduced similar legislation:

• Senate: Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley introduced bipartisan legislation proposing a 10% cap for five years
• House: Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna introduced comparable legislation

These initiatives reflect cross-party concern over consumer borrowing costs, though no law imposing credit card interest rate caps has been enacted to date.

Industry Response and Implementation Questions

Major US financial institutions, including American Express, Capital One Financial, JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America, have not immediately responded to the announcement. The White House has not provided details on how the proposed interest rate cap would be implemented or enforced.

Criticism and Potential Consequences

The proposal has drawn criticism from financial sector observers. Billionaire fund manager Bill Ackman warned that limiting interest rates could prompt lenders to cancel credit cards for millions of consumers, potentially forcing them to seek alternative forms of credit with potentially higher costs or less favorable terms.

Related Policy Context

The announcement follows other Trump administration actions affecting credit card regulations. The administration previously moved to eliminate a credit card late-fee rule that had been introduced under the Biden administration, demonstrating continued focus on credit card industry regulation.