Friend,

Let’s set aside the rhetoric and the talking points. No more spin and no more moralizing.

Here are five numbers that I’ll be laser-focused on during the upcoming Trump presidency. President Trump and his supporters believe that his protectionist trade policies and deregulation of American workplaces will boost America’s economy and help working families.

I think these numbers will tell the true story. Specifically, I want to know how many Americans are out of work, how much they pay for basic goods, how much they earn for an hour of work, how many new homes are being built, and how many entrepreneurs are launching new businesses. Periodically, I’ll check back in to find out if these numbers are moving in the right direction or the wrong direction.

As President Trump takes office, here is where the numbers stand:

Unemployment Rate: 4.2%

Consumer Price Index: $316.44

Average Hourly Earnings: $35.61

New Housing Built: 1,289,000 units

New Business Applications: 448,758 new businesses

Together, we’ll track how President Trump’s policies impact working families.

— Jim