U.S. Economic Growth Hits 3.2% in Q4, Marking Six Quarters of Sustained Expansion

In the last quarter of the year, the U.S. economy expanded at a solid 3.2% annual rate, slightly less than the initial 3.3% growth estimate by the Commerce Department. This growth, spurred by robust consumer spending, marks a deceleration from the 4.9% growth experienced in the third quarter but continues the trend of the U.S. economy growing over 2% for six consecutive quarters. This performance has notably surpassed expectations that high interest rates might drive the world’s largest economy into recession.