Scott Bessent on Sunday said the 43-day government shutdown caused an $11 billion permanent hit to the US economy. (File Photo)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said the 43-day government shutdown caused an $11 billion permanent hit to the US economy, but he was optimistic about growth prospects next year given easing interest rates and tax cuts.

Bessent told NBC’s “Meet the Press” program that parts of the US economy that are sensitive to interest rates, including housing, had been in recession, but he did not see the entire economy at risk of negative growth.

He blamed the services economy, not US President Donald Trump ’s sweeping tariffs, for inflation – repeating the Trump administration’s longstanding mantra – and added that he expected lower energy prices to drive dow

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