The Commerce Department announced on Sept. 30 that final real GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.2% in the second quarter of 2026, revising the previous 1.5% estimate up by 0.7 percentage point. The result exceeded economists’ forecasts but was below the first quarter’s revised 2.5% pace. Consumer spending accelerated to a 3.8% annual rate from 0.7% in the first quarter, while nonresidential business investment rose 9%, driven by artificial intelligence-related spending. Real final sales to private domestic purchasers increased 4.6%, indicating stronger underlying demand, while imports rose 12.6% and reduced GDP growth by roughly 1.7 percentage points. The report also included revisions to prices and corporate profits, and showed real GDP increasing in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The BEA’s first estimate of third-quarter GDP is scheduled for October 29.