The US economy is set to report another quarter of solid growth Wednesday, less than a week before the presidential election, but analysts say it remains unclear if positive data can sway inflation-weary voters.
Despite spending more, American consumers have been downbeat about their job and financial prospects — meaning that Democrat Kamala Harris still comes out behind Republican Donald Trump in opinion polls about the economy.
“If you were to look at numbers like GDP growth or income or consumption, or even employment, you’d say: ‘Gosh, this economy is in pretty good shape,’” said Dan North, senior economist for Allianz Trade North America.
“The one thing that completely destroys that narrative is the inflation that consumers have had to deal with,” he told AFP.
The world’s biggest economy is anticipated to expand by an annual 3.0 percent rate in the third quarter, according to a market consensus published by …