Economics

Trade Helps U.S. Economy Grow 2.1% While Consumption Slows

  • Business investment falls again in longest slump since 2009
  • Steady headline number masks weaker underlying details
An American flag hangs above a worker operating a forklift at a manufacturing facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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U.S. consumer spending moderated and business investment continued to deteriorate at the end of 2019, while a smaller trade deficit and more home construction helped keep economic growth steady.