US economy grew 3.4% in Q3 2026, but the mix behind it is uneven
The Bureau of Economic Analysis' first estimate shows real GDP growing at a 3.4% annual rate, up from 2.2% in the spring. Part of the lift came from a quirk in how government oil sales are counted.
On Oct. 29, 2026, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) published its advance estimate of third-quarter gross domestic product. According to the release, real GDP, the economy's output adjusted for inflation, increased at an annual rate of 3.4% in July, August and September. That is roughly 0.8% growth for the quarter itself, before annualizing. The second quarter's rate was 2.2%.
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