U.S. GDP Grew at 1.6% Annual Rate in Q1 2026, BEA Second Estimate Shows
3d ago· 5 min readenNews
100/100
Golden Brown
Bagelometer↗
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Score100TypenewsSentimentneutral
Summary
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released its second estimate for Q1 2026 GDP, showing real GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.6%. This marks a slowdown from the previous quarter's 0.5% growth (note: likely a quarterly rate comparison). Growth was driven by exports, investment, consumer spending, and government spending, while imports increased (a subtraction in GDP calculation). The second estimate was revised down 0.4 percentage points from the advance estimate.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledReal gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026 (January, February, and March), according to the second estimate released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, real GDP increased 0.5 percent.
The contributors to the increase in real GDP in the first quarter were exports, investment, consumer spending, and government spending.
Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased.
Real GDP was revised down 0.4 percentage point from the advance estimate.
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2026 (January, February, and March), according to the second estimate released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 202
