The U.S. economy accelerated sharply in the three months to September, growing at an annual rate of 4.3%—its strongest performance in two years—driven by a jump in consumer spending, rising exports and a rebound in government outlays, according to official data. Household spending rose 3.5% despite a cooling labour market, while exports surged 7.4% and imports continued to fall, partly reflecting new tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.
Economists at Bank of America and Oxford Economics said the figures showed a resilient underlying economy heading into 2026, supported by expected tax cuts and easing interest rates from the Federal Reserve.