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US economy grew at 3.4% annual rate in third quarter, beating forecasts

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 14 outlets across the spectrum.

16 articles in total, 1 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

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The U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.4% in the third quarter, the months from July through September, according to an advance estimate released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the Commerce Department. Economists had expected roughly 3.1% growth. Business investment and consumer spending drove the gain, and several outlets link much of the investment to artificial intelligence. Just the News and Townhall say second-quarter growth was 2.2%. The Guardian and The Independent say higher oil prices from the Middle East conflict offset part of the growth. NPR reports the figure is the last major economic reading before the midterm elections.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Real GDP grew at a 3.4% annualized rate in the third quarter, July to September, according to an advance estimate.

    Across the spectrumReported byLeft5Center2Far Right3See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News, The New York Times, The Independent, NPR, The Guardian
    Center
    Financial Times, CNBC
    Far Right
    Just the News, Breitbart News, Townhall

  2. Growth beat expectations of roughly 3.1%.

    Reported byLeft1Center1Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Guardian
    Center
    Financial Times
    Far Right
    Just the News, Townhall

  3. Business investment and consumer spending drove the growth, and several outlets link much of the investment to artificial intelligence.

    Across the spectrumReported byLeft3Center2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The New York Times, The Independent, The Guardian
    Center
    MarketWatch, Financial Times
    Far Right
    Breitbart News, Townhall

  4. Second-quarter growth was 2.2%.

    One side only: the rightReported byFar Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Far Right
    Just the News, Townhall

  5. The Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis released the advance estimate on Thursday.

    Reported byLeft1Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    ABC News
    Right
    The Washington Times
    Far Right
    Just the News
Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Higher oil prices from the conflict in the Middle East offset part of the growth, according to coverage.

    One side only: the leftReported byLeft2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    The Independent, The Guardian

  2. The report came days before the midterm elections.

    Reported byLeft2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Left
    NPR, The Guardian
    Far Right
    Townhall

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • The growth shows the economy is doing well for households.

    NPR says many Americans still struggle with affordability, and the Guardian contrasts the figure with Trump's record-low approval ratings. Townhall calls it good economic news for Americans and quotes President Trump calling the number great.

  • The growth reflects the policies of the Trump administration.

    Townhall says the economy is growing faster than expected under President Trump and Republicans. Outlets on the left and in the center attribute the growth to AI investment and consumer spending and do not credit the administration.

How each side tells it

Compare views

Every side reports 3.4% annualized growth in the third quarter, beating forecasts near 3.1%. Left outlets stress AI and consumer spending and midterm timing, center outlets the AI boom and inflation, and right outlets the beat and the acceleration from 2.2%.

  • the left

    5 outlets

    Left headlines report the 3.4% figure plainly and often add AI spending, consumer spending, midterm timing or household affordability.

    With days to go before the midterms, data shows the U.S. economy is doing well
    NPRLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    4 outlets

    Center headlines lead with beating forecasts or the fastest pace in years, and CNBC pairs the growth with accelerating September inflation.

    US economy beats forecasts to grow at 3.4% rate in third quarter
    Financial TimesCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    5 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right headlines stress beating expectations and acceleration, with Townhall tying the figure to the midterms and Far Right outlets using words like surges.

    Just Days Before Midterms, GDP Growth Sensational language“Surges”Surges overstates a rise from 2.2% to 3.4%, which other outlets describe as faster growth.More neutral: risesDisagree with this highlight? Past Expectations to 3.4 Percent
    TownhallFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center1

    ripped off

  • Right1

    Surges

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded verb

    ripped offMore neutral: posted

    The idiom adds a sense of dramatic force that the plain fact of faster growth does not need.

    economy ripped off its fastest rate of growth in almost three years, amped up by the boom in artificial…

    Used byMarketWatch (Center)

  • Sensational language

    SurgesMore neutral: rises

    Surges overstates a rise from 2.2% to 3.4%, which other outlets describe as faster growth.

    Just Days Before Midterms, GDP Growth Surges Past Expectations to 3.4 Percent

    Used byTownhall (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

5 outlets

Leads with

  • AI and consumer spending
  • Timing before the midterm elections
  • Household affordability concerns

Leaves out

  • The 2.2% second-quarter growth rate

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The GuardianLeftReuters report

    US economy grows faster than expected in report out just ahead of elections

    Growth is in sharp contrast to households’ assessment, reflected in Trump’s record-low approval ratings The US economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter as resilient consumer spending and AI -driven ⁠business investment more than ⁠offset the impact of higher oil …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • NPRLeft

    With days to go before the midterms, data shows the U.S. economy is doing well

    GDP grew at an annual rate of 3.4% in the third quarter in the last major read on the economy ahead of the midterm elections — but many Americans continue to struggle with affordability.

    Read at NPR (opens in a new tab)
  • The IndependentLeft

    US economy grew at brisk 3.4% pace in third quarter on strong consumer spending and AI investment

    The American economy – by far, the world’s biggest – has proven resilient in the face of higher energy prices caused by the fighting with Iran

    Read at The Independent (opens in a new tab)
  • The New York TimesLeft

    U.S. GDP Increased 3.4% in Third Quarter

    Spending by A.I. companies and consumers powered gross domestic product growth in the third quarter. The economy grew 3.4 percent, the fastest pace in a year.

    Read at The New York Times (opens in a new tab)
  • ABC NewsLeft

    US economy grew at 3.4% annualized rate in 3rd quarter, government data shows

    The United States economy expanded at an annualized rate of 3.4% over the three months ending in September, according to a government report released on Thursday.

    Read at ABC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

4 outlets

Leads with

  • Growth beat forecasts
  • Fastest pace in years
  • AI spending boom
  • Inflation alongside growth

Leaves out

  • Timing ahead of the midterm elections

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    US GDP grew by 3.4 percent in third quarter amid AI investment boom

    U.S. economic growth increased in the third quarter, as the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) investment continued and consumers kept spending despite persistent inflation. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • CNBCCenter

    Third-quarter U.S. GDP increases a better-than-expected 3.4% as September inflation accelerates

    The personal consumption expenditures price index was projected to increase 0.5% in September for an annual rate of 3.7%, according to the Dow Jones consensus.

    Read at CNBC (opens in a new tab)
  • Financial TimesCenter

    US economy beats forecasts to grow at 3.4% rate in third quarter

    AI spending boom continues to fuel growth in world’s largest economy

    Read at Financial Times (opens in a new tab)
  • MarketWatchCenter

    U.S. economy grows at fastest pace in almost three years, third-quarter GDP shows

    The U.S. economy Loaded verb“ripped off”The idiom adds a sense of dramatic force that the plain fact of faster growth does not need.More neutral: postedDisagree with this highlight? its fastest rate of growth in almost three years, amped up by the boom in artificial intelligence and strong spending by wealthier Americans.

    Read at MarketWatch (opens in a new tab)

From the right

5 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • Beat of expectations
  • Acceleration from 2.2% in the second quarter
  • Credit to President Trump

Leaves out

  • Trump's record-low approval ratings

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    6 min later

    Its first report, Oct 29, 8:41 AM EDT

  • Center

    First to report

    MarketWatch, Oct 29, 8:35 AM EDT

  • Right

    12 min later

    Its first report, Oct 29, 8:47 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. MarketWatchCenterOct 29, 8:35 AM EDT
  2. ABC NewsLeftOct 29, 8:41 AM EDT
  3. Financial TimesCenterOct 29, 8:41 AM EDT
  4. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 29, 8:47 AM EDT
  5. CNBCCenterOct 29, 8:55 AM EDT
  6. The New York TimesLeftOct 29, 8:58 AM EDT
  7. The IndependentLeftOct 29, 9:02 AM EDT
  8. NPRLeftOct 29, 9:05 AM EDT
  9. The GuardianLeftOct 29, 9:09 AM EDT
  10. The Washington TimesRightOct 29, 9:38 AM EDT
  11. The HillCenterOct 29, 10:46 AM EDT
  12. RedStateFar RightOct 29, 11:30 AM EDT
  13. New York PostRightOct 29, 11:49 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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