The United States economy expanded at a 2 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2026 despite emerging uncertainties linked to the ongoing war in Iran.Official data released by the Commerce Department showed a rebound from the previous quarter's modest 0.5 percent growth.Government spending and investment surged by 9.3 percent, contributing significantly to the overall growth.Business investment also rose sharply by 8.7 percent, likely driven by increased spending on artificial intelligence technologies.Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of US economic activity, slowed to 1.6 percent growth compared to 1.9 percent in the last quarter of 2025.The housing... [Continue Reading]