The Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow model has lowered its estimate for U.S. economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, with the nowcast easing to 2.0% from a previous reading of 2.3%. Both estimates relate to the same period — Q1 2026 — with the latest adjustment reflecting updated data as of 23 March 2026.
The modest downward revision suggests slightly softer momentum in real GDP growth than previously projected, although the 2.0% pace still indicates ongoing expansion in the U.S. economy. While the GDPNow model is not an official forecast, markets and analysts often track its movements closely as a high-frequency gauge of how incoming data are shaping the growth outlook within the quarter.
