U.S. Growth Slows

Second-quarter GDP cooled while inflation stayed stubbornly high.

•Balanced

Why is US GDP growth slowing, and how can it be reversed?

Opinion | The Tepid Trump Economy

Trump’s merely “okay” economy

Summary

A neutral summary of the key facts most outlets agree on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum.

The U.S. economy grew at a 1.5% annualized rate in the second quarter of 2026, the Commerce Department’s advance estimate showed, down from 2.1% in the first quarter and below economists’ 2.1% forecast. Rising imports subtracted from GDP, while consumer spending and business investment continued to support output. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures price index, fell 0.1% in June and eased to 3.7% annually from 4.1% in May. Core PCE inflation was 3.3%, still above the Fed’s 2% target, complicating rate decisions.

The Coverage

How outlets are covering this story: how much of the coverage argues a viewpoint, and the angles that emerged — built only from the analysis and opinion pieces, never from straight reporting. Each dot is one article, placed by its outlet's bias — left to right. How to read our graphics →

Some commentary

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Coverage Angles

Trump Economic UnderperformanceLeans Left

Trump’s policies and the Iran war have left the U.S. economy weaker than it should be. Growth is only modest, costs are higher, and the economy is not strong enough to justify boasting.