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GDP report to give insight before Election Day. And, Israel’s election is deadlocked
Developed over time first seen 2 weeks ago
The US economy grew faster in the summer than in the spring, according to figures released days before the 3 November midterm elections. The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimated that real gross domestic product rose at an annualised rate of 3.4% in the third quarter, up from 2.2% in the second. Investment, consumer spending and government spending contributed to growth. The figures offer voters a measure of economic activity, although they do not settle concerns about household costs: the September personal consumption expenditures price index was 3.6% higher than a year earlier.
Israel, meanwhile, faced coalition talks after an election left neither main bloc with the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat parliament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies won 53 seats, while the main opposition bloc won 48 and Arab-led parties secured 19. Netanyahu remained in office as parties considered possible alliances. The result gave neither side a clear route to a government, leaving open the prospect of prolonged negotiations or another election if those talks fail.
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In short
- US GDP grew at an annualised 3.4% in the third quarter, ahead of the midterms.
- September’s US consumer spending price index was 3.6% higher than a year earlier.
- Neither main bloc won a majority in Israel’s parliament; coalition talks lie ahead.
How this story developed
- 2 weeks ago The US economy grew faster in the summer than in the spring, according to figures released days before the 3 November midterm elections.
- NPR GDP report to give insight before Election Day. And, Israel’s election is deadlocked
- US Bureau of Economic Analysis GDP (Advance Estimate), 3rd Quarter 2026
- US Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Income and Outlays, September 2026
Full account
The US economy grew faster in the third quarter of 2026, according to an initial estimate released before Election Day. Real gross domestic product rose at an annualised rate of 3.4% between July and September, up from 2.2% in the previous quarter. The figure offers a broad measure of economic activity, although it is an early estimate and may be revised when more data become available.
Investment, consumer spending and government spending all contributed to growth. A fall in exports partly offset those gains, while imports rose and therefore reduced the GDP calculation. The acceleration from the second quarter was driven chiefly by stronger investment and a return to growth in government spending. A measure focused on purchases by private domestic buyers rose by 4.9%, compared with 4.6% in the previous quarter.
A separate report gave a more detailed picture of households in September. Personal income rose by 0.2%, while consumer spending increased by 0.5% in cash terms. Spending on services accounted for more of the dollar increase than spending on goods. After adjusting for prices, however, consumer spending rose by less than 0.1%. The personal saving rate was 3.8%.
The two releases also present different views of inflation. The GDP report says the personal consumption expenditures price index rose at an annualised rate of 2.1% during the third quarter, down from 5.0% in the second. The monthly report says that index rose 0.5% in September alone and stood 3.6% above its level a year earlier. These figures cover different periods and should not be read as direct equivalents. Both reports are scheduled for updates on 25 November. Neither supplied source addresses Israel’s election, so the deadlock mentioned in the headline cannot be substantiated from the material provided.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The sources are separate releases from the same agency, rather than reports from different outlets. The GDP release emphasises overall quarterly growth and its contributors; the personal income release focuses on September household income, spending, saving and prices. Their inflation figures use different reporting periods.
Explained simply
GDP, or gross domestic product, measures the value of goods and services produced in a country. In the US, it is compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is one way to gauge economic activity, alongside measures of prices and household costs.
Israel’s parliament has 120 seats, and a government needs support from at least 61 members. After an election, the parties negotiate to form a coalition, usually by agreeing to govern together; the prime minister stays in office while those talks take place.
Coverage · 3 sources
Americas Business Economy Elections Middle East Politics World