White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Friday’s sold job growth proves that the economy “is really coming back now” and has rebounded from disappointing labor-market data last month.

The head of the National Economic Council that advises President Donald Trump predicted higher than 2 percent growth in first quarter and 3 percent for the rest of year.

“Between government shutdowns and lousy winter seasonal adjustments, it looks like the economy is really coming back now,” the veteran financial guru and former Ronald Reagan adviser told Bloomberg Television.

Kudlow spoke after U.S. employment growth accelerated from a 17-month low in March, assuaging fears of an abrupt slowdown in economic activity, but a moderation in wage gains supported the Federal Reserve’s decision to suspend further interest rate increases this year.

Milder weather boosted hiring in sectors like construction, but worsening worker shortages and lingering effects of tighter financial market conditions at the turn of the year left job growth below 2018’s brisk pace.

The Labor Department’s closely watched employment report on Friday also showed a small upward revision to February’s meager job gains.

The U.S. central bank last month halted its three-year campaign to tighten monetary policy, dropping projections for any rate hikes this year after lifting borrowing costs four times in 2018, Reuters reported. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 196,000 jobs in March. Data for February was revised modestly up to show 33,000 jobs created instead of the previously reported 20,000. February job gains were the smallest since September 2017.

“This is very similar to what happened last year. You had a weak first quarter. We've had weak first quarters for years but then the economy snapped back,” said Kudlow, who worked as Reagan’s budget deputy between 1981 and 1985.

"It's a repeat and I like it very much,"  said Kudlow, who served as the Trump campaign's senior economic adviser.

Kudlow also praised "President Trump's rebuilding of the economy from the supply side with tax cuts and deregulation and trade reform" as responsible for the growth.

The economy has shifted into lower gear as stimulus from the Trump administration’s $1.5 trillion tax cut package as well as increased government spending fades. A trade war between Washington and Beijing, and slowing global growth have also taken a toll on the economy, which in July will celebrate 10 years of expansion, the longest on record.

Trump has boasted about the economy, especially the labor market, as being one of the big wins of his first term in office. Sluggish growth, if it persists, could pose a challenge to Trump’s re-election hopes next year.

Trump, who has blamed the Fed’s relatively tighter monetary policy for the slowdown in economic activity, on Friday urged the central bank to cut interest rates.

“I think they should drop rates,” Trump told reporters. “I think they really slowed us down.”

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