economy

April 30, 2026

GDP growth rebounded to 2% rate in first quarter

Gross domestic product grew at a 2% annual rate in the first quarter, adjusted for inflation, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported in a preliminary reading Thursday morning.

GDP growth rebounded to 2% rate in first quarter

TL;DR

  • First-quarter GDP grew at a 2% annual rate, adjusted for inflation.
  • This rate exceeded forecasts of 2.2%.
  • Growth improved significantly from the 0.5% rate in the fourth quarter of 2025.
  • Key drivers included increased government spending, more exports, and accelerated business investment.
  • Business investment was boosted by spending on information processing equipment, linked to the AI sector.
  • The economy showed steady growth despite challenges like cold weather and rising energy prices due to the Middle East war.

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