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.

The U.S. grew at a mild 2.3% annual pace in the final three months of 2024, but the details of the report showed an economy on strong footing as the Biden administration handed off to the Trump White House.

U.S. gross domestic product grew by 2,3% in Q4 2024 after expanding by 3.1% in Q3. Consumption was the lion's share of growth as investment fell on inventory declines.

U.S. economic growth was strong in 2024, but GDP probably slowed toward the end of the year, as households and businesses braced for new tariffs.

Economic growth in the US slowed at the end of last year, as trade declined more sharply than expected and the country was hit by hurricanes and labour strikes. The economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.3% between October and December, down from 3.1% in the three months before, according to the US Commerce Department.