CNBC anchor shocked as US trade deficit plunges to lowest since 2009. How to take advantage in 2026

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The U.S. has lived with a massive trade deficit for decades. But under President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, that gap is suddenly narrowing — and much faster than many expected.

That became clear on CNBC when anchor Rick Santelli reacted in real time to the latest numbers.

“On the trade balance, which we know is going to be a deficit, we’re expecting a number around $58 billion,” Santelli said on Thursday morning (1). As he read through the Commerce Department’s update, his tone shifted. “Buckle up, this is unreal! The movement in this number: -$29.4 billion — we cut it basically in half! We cut it in half!”

October’s $29.4 billion trade deficit didn’t just come in well below economists’ forecasts — it marked a 39% drop from September’s $48.1 billion gap (2).

Santelli also underscored how dramatic the swing has been compared to earlier this year, before Trump’s tariffs took effect.

“Just consider this: In March it was $136 billion. Right now, it’s a whisker under $30 billion. We haven’t been that small in a long time — I don’t have enough records here to go back that far!” he said.

As it turns out, it’s the smallest trade deficit since June 2009.

Tariffs are designed to discourage imports and reshape trade flows, so the trend isn’t entirely unexpected. As Santelli noted, “Here’s the news on why it moved lower: Imports were down and exports were up.”

To be sure, Trump’s sweeping tariffs have drawn criticism, including fears of retaliation from major trading partners. But with the latest figures, some economists are sounding more upbeat.

“The U.S. appears to be winning the trade war with tariffs curbing the imports of foreign goods, but America’s trading partners are not holding any grudge as they continue to buy more American goods and services,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at Fwdbonds (3).

“So far, the forecasts for a U.S. recession are coming up dry as productivity continues to backstop growth.”

Recent data backs up that assessment. U.S. GDP grew at an annual rate of 4.3% in the third quarter of 2025 — the strongest pace since late 2023 and well above economists’ expectations for a 3.2% increase (4).

Some analysts see additional tailwinds ahead. Michael Pearce, chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, pointed to easing uncertainty, fiscal support and more accommodating monetary policy (5).

“We expect fading policy uncertainty, the boost from tax cuts and the recent loosening of monetary policy to mean the economy strengthens in 2026,” Pearce said.

If you share this optimism, here’s a look at a few simple ways to position yourself for America’s growth in 2026 — and beyond.

The U.S. stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. Trump has pointed to that strength, recently saying, “the only thing that’s really going up big? It’s the stock market and your 401(k)s (6).”

The benchmark S&P 500 returned 16% in 2025 and has gained roughly 82% over the past five years.

Read More: Approaching retirement with no savings? Don’t panic, you’re not alone. Here are 6 easy ways you can catch up (and fast)

Of course, consistently picking winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies at all to benefit from the stock market’s long-term growth.

“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (7). This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.

The beauty of this approach is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.

Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: Link your cards and Acorns will round up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.

With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and, if you sign up today with a recurring investment, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.

Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth-building in America.

In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (8).”

Why? Because regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently produce rent money.

Real estate also offers a built-in hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.

Of course, you don’t need $25 billion — or even to buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.

Backed by world class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling difficult tenants.

The process is simple: Browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you’d like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

Another option is First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.

With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a share of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart, which provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to triple net leases, accredited investors are able to invest in these properties without worrying about tenant costs cutting into their potential returns.

Simply answer a few questions — including how much you would like to invest — to start browsing their full list of available properties.

The trade report also drew attention to one standout commodity — gold.

In October, exports of nonmonetary gold surged by $6.8 billion, while imports of the precious metal fell by $1.4 billion.

Gold has been on a tear, soaring about 70% over the past 12 months as of early January. Investors have long turned to the yellow metal as a safe-haven asset — a hedge against uncertainty, inflation and geopolitical stress.

Unlike fiat currencies, gold isn’t tied to any single government and can’t be printed out of thin air by central banks. When markets get turbulent, money tends to move toward assets perceived as stable — and gold often tops that list.

Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, has repeatedly highlighted gold’s role in a resilient portfolio.

“People don’t have, typically, an adequate amount of gold in their portfolio,” Dalio told CNBC earlier last year. “When bad times come, gold is a very effective diversifier.”

He’s not the only one sounding bullish. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon recently said that in this environment, gold can “easily” rise to $10,000 an ounce.

One way to invest in gold that also provides significant tax advantages is to open a gold IRA with the help of Priority Gold.

Gold IRAs allow investors to hold physical gold or gold-related assets within a retirement account, thereby combining the tax advantages of an IRA with the protective benefits of investing in gold, making it an option for those looking to help shield their retirement funds against economic uncertainties.

When you make a qualifying purchase with Priority Gold, you can receive up to $10,000 in precious metals for free.

Public markets show just one side of how wealth is created. Many of the biggest and most successful tech companies remain privately held for years, growing behind the scenes and building incredible value long before the IPO bell is rung.

Venture capital is where the early bets are placed on future giants. But, for decades, venture capital has been one of the few remaining tables in finance where retail investors can’t get a seat.

Fundrise finally disrupted that dynamic a few years ago by launching a venture capital product with two goals. One: Build a portfolio of the most valuable private tech companies in the world. Two: Make it available to as many people as possible, with investments starting at just $10.

Today, Fundrise manages billions of dollars in private market assets and their venture capital product is designed specifically for investors like you who want to get in early on transformative technologies like AI.

Check out their venture portfolio today and start investing in minutes.

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

@CNBCtelevision (1); Bureau of Economic Analysis (2), (4); CNBC (3), (7), (8); Reuters (5); @ntdtv (6)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.