The U.S. economy accelerated at the start of 2026, expanding at a modest 2% pace from January through March after recovering from last fall’s 43-day federal government shutdown.

Shoppers accelerated their spending in March from February, but they spent a good chunk of their money at the gas pump.

U.S. job openings rose to nearly 7 million in January, better than expected at a time when the American labor market has looked sluggish.

U.S. job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years, another sign that the American labor market remains sluggish.

The six-week government shutdown that came to an end late Wednesday will be another drag on an economy already facing many challenges, though the full impact will take months to measure.

The American job market, a pillar of U.S. economic strength since the pandemic, is crumbling under the weight of President Donald Trump’s erratic economic policies.