Consumer spending fueled growth, despite ongoing fears about inflation.

Economists expect that real GDP grew about 2.5% in the period, below the third quarter’s growth rate, due to a trade deficit in goods.

U.S. economic growth slowed in the fourth quarter as a strike at Boeing depressed business investment in equipment, but consumer spending increased at its fastest pace in nearly two years, underscoring strong domestic demand that probably keeps the Federal Reserve on a slow interest rate cut path this year.

After entering a technical recession in 2022, the U.S. economy has proven resilient even amid high interest rates.