The Economy Isn’t “Booming” — You’re Just Being Gaslit

Turn on the news and you’ll hear it: “The economy is booming!” They say it with the same upbeat tone as a morning weather report. But let’s decode that. When the media says “booming,” they’re not talking about your paycheck. They’re talking about markets, profits, and investor portfolios — and that’s not the same thing as your economic reality.

This is a languages game, and it’s rigged.

Words like “growth,” “resilience,” and “strong labor market” sound reassuring. They make you think, Well, if the economy’s good, I must be okay too, right? But here’s the sleight of hand: those metrics are built to measure corporate health, not household stability. A “resilient labor market” could mean you still have a job — but your rent has gone up 20% and your health insurance deductible doubled. The numbers don’t lie, but they also don’t tell the whole truth.

The media rarely explains who benefits from a “good” economy. They talk about GDP growth like it’s a national victory, without mentioning that most of that growth is captured by a fraction of the population. They’ll gush over the Dow Jones hitting a record high, but won’t tell you that 84% of stock market wealth is owned by the richest 10% of Americans.

And here’s where it gets insidious: this rosy economic language isn’t just harmless optimism — it’s psychological management. If the public believes the economy is fine, they’re less likely to push for change, demand wage increases, or question why they’re falling behind. It’s the political version of telling someone in a burning building, “Don’t worry, it’s just a little warm in here.”

Why this matters: When language is used to mask inequality, it keeps the status quo safe. The more disconnected the official narrative becomes from everyday reality, the more people blame themselves for “not trying hard enough” instead of recognizing that the system itself is tilted.

What to do about it

Treat economic news like an advertisement — ask, Who is this message for?

Look for distribution data, not just averages. If they say “incomes are up,” ask “Whose incomes?”

Demand media coverage that tracks cost-of-living indexes alongside growth stats, so “booming” actually means something tangible for working people.

Because until then, “the economy is booming” is just code for “someone else is doing great.”