The U.S. economy grew at a slower rate than previously thought in the fourth quarter after the Commerce Department released its first revision of real gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the latest quarter. That figure is subject to change as the BEA will release a final revision to the fourth quarter GDP figure released today as more data comes in. The BEA noted that the rise in consumer spending and investment boosted real GDP in the fourth quarter, but those gains were partly offset by decreases in exports and government spending. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers, which is the sum of consumer spending and gross private fixed investment, rose 1.9% in the fourth quarter. BEA is unable to quantify the full effects of the shutdown, though it estimated that the reduction in federal government services reduced real GDP growth in the fourth quarter by about 1 percentage point.

Source: Fox News March 13, 2026 17:17 UTC