Atlanta Fed GDPNow Holds Steady at 1.3% for Q1 2026, Signaling Stable U.S. Growth Outlook

The latest reading of the Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow model shows the U.S. economy on an unchanged trajectory, with first-quarter 2026 growth estimated at 1.3%. According to the update released on 9 April 2026, the real-time tracker’s current estimate matches its previous figure of 1.3%, indicating no revision in the near-term outlook for U.S. gross domestic product.

The GDPNow model, which provides a running forecast of real GDP growth as new economic data are released, suggests that expectations for U.S. activity in early 2026 have stabilized. With the estimate flat compared to the earlier first-quarter reading, markets and analysts receive a signal of steady, if modest, growth rather than a marked acceleration or slowdown at this stage of the year.