United States economic growth came in at 3.4% for the third quarter of 2026, according to the advance estimate published at 12:30 GMT on 29 October 2026. The reading was above the market forecast of 3.2%.
Comparison with the previous period
The figure is also higher than the 2.2% recorded in the previous period. Gross domestic product measures the total value of goods and services produced across the economy, so a higher growth rate means output expanded faster than it did before. The advance estimate is the first official reading and is often revised as more complete data becomes available.
What the figure measures
Growth of 3.4% means the economy’s total output was 3.4% larger than a year earlier in the sense that the rate is reported, and the number is closely watched by policymakers at the Federal Reserve and by the Treasury when assessing the strength of the expansion. A reading above forecast suggests activity was stronger than economists had expected going into the release.
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