U.S. economy slowed in final months of last year, but continued to expand

A report from the Commerce Department shows the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.4% in October, November and December. That compares to a 4.4% pace the previous quarter.

Why This Matters

The recent slowdown in the U.S. economy, as reported by the Commerce Department, has significant implications for economic policymakers and investors. The 1.4% annual growth rate in the final months of last year marks a notable decline from the previous quarter's 4.4% pace. This shift in economic momentum warrants close attention.

In Week 8 2026, General accounted for 182 related article(s), with UK Politics setting the broader headline context. Coverage of Other decreased by 6 article(s) versus the prior week, but remained material in the weekly agenda.

Coverage Snapshot

Week 8 2026 included 182 Other article(s). Leading outlets for this topic included BBC, NY Times, Fox News. Across that cluster, sentiment showed a mostly neutral skew (avg score 0.02).

Key Insights

Primary keywords: economy, department, continued, commerce, november.
Topic focus: Other coverage with neutral sentiment.
Source context: reported by NPR Business.
Published: 2026-02-20.
Published by NPR Business, a widely cited major outlet.
Date context: published during Week 8 2026, when UK Politics dominated weekly headlines.

Tone & Sentiment

The article tone is classified as neutral, driven by the language and emphasis in the summary. The sentiment score of -0.02 indicates the strength of that tone.

Context

The Commerce Department's report aligns with broader trends in the U.S. economy, which has been experiencing a slowdown in growth following a period of rapid expansion. Media outlets such as NPR Business have highlighted the economic indicators, including the decline in consumer spending and business investment. However, some analysts suggest that the slowdown may be a natural correction after a period of strong growth.

Related Topics

Other

Key Takeaway

In short, this article underscores key movement in Other and explains why it matters now.

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NPR Business U.S. economy slowed in final months of last year, but continued to expand