Investors gripped with concern over the US economy can relax. Goldman Sachs explains why common worries, including frothy valuations, are overblown.

Economic activity increased in most parts of the U.S. and employment was mostly unchanged in recent weeks, the Federal Reserve said on Wednesday in a report that may do little to sway ​policymakers' interest rate views ahead of the central bank's meeting in two weeks.

Economic growth outpaces doom predictions with 4.3% GDP surge. Business leaders get the real story on 2026 trends: jobs, immigration, AI adoption, planning strategies

The global slowdown from pre-pandemic annual growth rates above 3 percent is proving to be especially damaging for developing economies. About one-quarter of those nations — most in Africa — have lower per-person incomes today than before the pandemic, while nearly all advanced economies boast higher marks, the report said.

The latest data means 2025 saw the weakest annual job growth since 2003, with just 584,000 jobs added last year.

The Labor Department released the December jobs report, which showed the U.S. economy added jobs at a modest pace to close out 2025 amid economic uncertainty.

In terms of the latest jobs report, thousands of new roles were added to the U.S. economy last month. However, it is still far below projections from experts.

Remember 2025, when President Trump dictated bracing new rules for the economy? Impose sweeping tariffs! Dismantle government agencies! Lower taxes! Cut spending! The Federal Reserve remained independent, but almost everyone else fell in line.

Explore the size of America’s underground economy. Discover what activities this economy includes, and how it affects taxes, jobs, and the broader U.S. economy.

What does the media get wrong on the economy? Here's part two of what USA TODAY readers said about real-world experiences and how we could do better.

In 2025, one of the biggest business buzzwords has been the idea of a "K-shaped" economy, in which there is a growing disparity between the rich and the poor.